Numerical investigation of conjugate heat transfer in circular pipes considering wall thickness, material conductivity, and external convection

• A comprehensive CFD study of turbulent conjugate heat transfer in circular pipes was performed. • Reynolds number was identified as the dominant parameter governing internal convection. • Wall thickness, material conductivity, and external convection mainly affected the overall heat transfer rate. • A dimensionless Nusselt number correlation was developed based on 54 numerical cases. • The proposed correlation predicts numerical results within ±8% deviation. Conjugate heat transfer in circular pipes involves the coupled interaction of turbulent forced convection in the fluid, heat conduction through the pipe wall, and external convection to the ambient, which represents realistic conditions encountered in…