Theoretical analysis and stochastic modeling of turbulent heat transfer in annular pipe flows

Heat transfer in annular pipes is determined by the thermal and momentum boundary layer at the cylindrical inner and outer walls, respectively. The relative contributions are expressed by a local Nusselt number that depends on the radius ratio, the Prandtl number, and the Reynolds number. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) has been used previously to infer closure relations constrained to weakly turbulent flow due to numerical resource requirements. Here, stochastic one-dimensional turbulence (ODT) is utilized as a standalone tool as an alternative to DNS. ODT offers full-scale resolution along a representative radial domain, providing predictive capabilities relative to a calibrated reference case at a radically reduced cost. On average, ODT obeys radial balance equations compatible with the Navier-Stokes equations. Separating the boundary layer into a diffusion and a mixing-length dominated region in cylindrical geometry yields wall-curvature corrections at the inner wall. The proposed expressions can be used to enhance prescribed wall functions, for example, in Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations.