Heat Transfer to Mercury in Turbulent Pipe Flow

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Abstract
Experimental heat-transfer results are presented for turbulent flow of nonwetting mercury in a ¾-in., 18-gage mild-steel tube with constant heat flux. The identical test heat exchanger developed for the previously reported investigation of molten lead-bismuth eutectic (10, 11, 12) was used. This present investigation also includes a series of short-duration tests for possible effects due to secondary flow, the use of argon as an alternate for a helium-gas atmosphere, and the addition of magnesium-titanium amalgam as a wetting agent. Heat-transfer tests with water preceded and followed those for mercury to establish continuing reliable performance of the test exchanger and its instrumentation. The results are correlated for the Peclet modulus range from 200 to 10,000 and are 4 to 10 per cent lower than the previously reported values for lead-bismuth and 35 to 40 per cent lower than the Martinelli-Lyon momentum theory (15, 17). No difference in heat-transfer performance was noted for upward versus downward flow or for the use of argon as a replacement for the helium atmosphere. No visible evidence of wetting occurred on the addition of the magnesium-titanium amalgam and no effect was found in the heat transfer.

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