Numerical Study on Mixed Convection Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Long Horizontal Channel Using Periodically Distributed Rotating Blades

A numerical study has been conducted on mixed convection heat transfer enhancement in a long horizontal channel provided with periodically distributed rotating blades. The upper wall of the channel is maintained at a constant low temperature (Tc) while the lower wall is kept hot at a constant high temperature (Th). A series of rotating blades having negligible thickness in comparison to its length is placed periodically along the centerline of the channel with the spacing between two successive blades’ rotational axes being equal to the height of the channel under consideration. The mathematical model of the present problem is governed by two-dimensional laminar transient continuity, momentum and energy equations. The governing equations are transformed to non-dimensional forms and then the moving mesh problem due to blade motion is solved by implementing Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) finite element formulation with triangular discretization scheme. Three different working fluids have been considered such as water, air and liquid Gallium that essentially cover a wide range of Prandtl Number (Pr) from 0.026 to 7.1. The dynamic condition of the rotating blades has been represented by Reynolds Number (Re) that is varied in the range of 1 to 500 and its effect on fluid flow and heat transfer has been investigated for the case of pure mixed convection heat transfer, characterized by Richardson number (Ri) of unity. Numerical results have been presented and analyzed in terms of the distribution of streamline and isotherm patterns, spatially averaged Nusselt number and normalized average Nusselt number variation along the hot wall for different parametric system configurations. The results of the present study show that, presence of rotating blades increases the heat transfer significantly in the channel. Heat transfer increases with increasing Prandtl Number (Pr) and the enhancement becomes more significant at higher Reynolds Numbers (Re).Power Spectrum analysis in frequency domain obtained from the FFT analysis indicates that, the rotating blade oscillation frequency and the oscillation frequency of Nusselt number differ at higher range of Reynolds Number (Re) and Prandtl Number (Pr). Therefore, dynamic condition of the rotating blades together with the thermophysical properties of working fluid play vital role in modulating the heat transfer characteristics and fluid flow behavior within the long horizontal channel.