This experimental study investigates the heat transfer augmentation in a reciprocating anti-gravity open thermosyphon using a twisted tape insert with relevance to the "shaker-bored" piston cooling system for marine propulsive diesel engine. A selection of experimental data illustrates the interactive effects of inertial, reciprocating, and buoyancy forces on heat transfer in the anti-gravity open thermosyphon with and without a twisted tape insert for subcooled and superheated conditions. The impacts of gravitational buoyancy on heat transfer in the static plain thermosyphon tube are reversed from impairing to improving heat transfer when the flow condition yields from subcooled to superheated condition. In the static thermosyphon tube fitted with twisted tape insert and in the reciprocating thermosyphon tubes with and without twisted tape insert, the buoyancy interactions enhance heat transfer coefficients. Due to the isolated reciprocating force effect, heat transfer coefficients are initially impaired from the static levels at low pulsating numbers but recovered to be enhanced at high pulsating numbers in the reciprocating plain thermosyphon tube. For the reciprocating thermosyphon tube fitted with a twisted tape insert, the isolated reciprocating force effect consistently improves heat transfer. The impacts of isolated reciprocating force and buoyancy interaction on heat transfer are Reynolds number-dependent. Heat transfer coefficients in the reciprocating thermosyphon tube fitted with the twisted tape insert could be augmented to the range of 1.2-6 times of plain tube levels. A set of empirical heat transfer correlations that considers the synergistic effects of inertial force, reciprocating force, and buoyancy interaction in the reciprocating anti-gravity open thermosyphon tube fitted with a twisted tape insert is developed to assist the design activity of the piston-cooling system.
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