Numerical Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel With Different Aspect Ratios

Author(s):  
Liu Wenhua ◽  
Mo Yang ◽  
Li Ling ◽  
Qiao Liang ◽  
Yuwen Zhang

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in rectangular channel has an important significance in engineering. Conventional approach to caculate Nusselt number of rectangular channel approximately is to take the equivalent diameter as the characteristic length and use the classic circular channel turbulent heat transfer coefficient correlations. However, under these conditions, the caculation error of Nusselt number can reach to 14% and thus this approach can not substantially describe the variation of Nusselt number of rectangular cross-sections with different aspect ratios. Therefore, caculation by using equivalent diameter as the characteristic length in classic experiment formula needs to be corrected. Seven groups of rectangular channel models with different aspect ratios have been studied numerically in this paper. By using standard turbulence model, the flow and heat transfer law of air with varing properties has been studied in 4 different sets of conditions in Reynolds number. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement. The simulation results show that with the increase of aspect ratio, the cross-sectional average Nusselt number increased, Nusselt number of circumferential wall distributed more evenly and the difference between the infinite plate channel and square channel went up to 25%. The effects of corner region and long\short sides on heat transfer have also been investigated in this paper. Results show that in rectangular channel, heat transfer in corner region is significantly weaker than it in other region. With the increase of aspect ratio, effect on the long side of heat transfer of the short side is gradually reduced, and then eventually eliminates completely in the infinite flat place. Based on the studies above, correction coefficient for rectangular channels with different aspect ratios has been proposed in this paper and the accuracy of the correction coefficient has been varified by numerical simulations. This can reflect the variation of Nusselt number under different aspect ratios more effectively and thus has current significance for project to calculate Nusselt number of heat transfer in rectangular channel.

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Kunstmann ◽  
Jens von Wolfersdorf ◽  
Uwe Ruedel

An investigation was conducted to assess the thermal performance of W-shaped, 2W-shaped and 4W-shaped ribs in a rectangular channel. The aspect ratios (W/H) were 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1. The ribs were located on one channel wall. The rib height (e) was kept constant with a rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh) of 0.02, 0.03, and 0.06. The rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) was 10. The Reynolds numbers investigated (Re > 90 000) are typical for combustor liner cooling configurations of gas turbines. Local heat transfer coefficients using the transient thermochromic liquid crystal technique and overall pressure losses were measured. The rib configurations were investigated numerically to visualize the flow pattern in the channel and to support the understanding of the experimental data. The results show that the highest heat transfer enhancement is obtained by rib configurations with a rib section-to-channel height ratio (Wr/H) of 1:1. W-shaped ribs achieve the highest heat transfer enhancement levels in channels with an aspect ratio of 2:1, 2W-shaped ribs in channels with an aspect ratio of 4:1 and 4W-shaped ribs in channels with an aspect ratio of 8:1. Furthermore, the pressure loss increases with increasing complexity of the rib geometry and blockage ratio.


Author(s):  
Lesley M. Wright ◽  
Eungsuk Lee ◽  
Je-Chin Han

The effect of rotation on smooth narrow rectangular channels and narrow rectangular channels with pin-fins is investigated in this study. Pin-fins are commonly used in the narrow sections within the trailing edge of the turbine blade; the pin-fins act as turbulators to enhance internal cooling while providing structural support in this narrow section of the blade. The rectangular channel is oriented at 150° with respect to the plane of rotation, and the focus of the study involves narrow channels with aspect ratios of 4:1 and 8:1. The enhancement due to both conducting (copper) pin-fins and non-conducting (plexi-glass) pins is investigated. Due to the varying aspect ratio of the channel, the height-to-diameter ratio (hp/Dp) of the pins varies from two, for an aspect ratio of 4:1, to unity, for an aspect ratio of 8:1. A staggered array of pins with uniform streamwise and spanwise spacing (xp/Dp = sp/Dp = 2.0) is studied. With this array, 42 pin-fins are used, giving a projected surface density of 3.5 pins/in2 (0.543 pins/cm2), for the leading or trailing surfaces. The range of flow parameters include Reynolds number (ReDh = 5000–20000), rotation number (Ro = 0.0–0.302), and inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio (Δρ/ρ = 0.12). Heat transfer in a stationary pin-fin channel can be enhanced up to 3.8 times that of a smooth channel. Rotation enhances the heat transferred from the pin-fin channels 1.5 times that of the stationary pin-fin channels. Overall, rotation enhances the heat transfer from all surfaces in both the smooth and pin-fin channels. Finally, as the rotation number increases, spanwise variation increases in all channels.


2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Y. Wang

The H1 and H2 forced convection heat transfer in rectangular ducts are studied using an accurate, analytic method. It is confirmed that, as the aspect ratio tends to infinity, the Nusselt number for the H2 case approaches 2.9162, much lower than the parallel plate value of 8.2353 attained by the H1 case. The controversy about the H2 limit is thus settled. An explanation of the behavior is suggested.


Author(s):  
Se´bastien Kunstmann ◽  
Jens von Wolfersdorf ◽  
Uwe Ruedel

An investigation was conducted to assess the thermal performance of W-shaped, 2W-shaped and 4W-shaped ribs in a rectangular channel. The aspect ratios (W/H) were 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1. The ribs were located on one channel wall. The rib height (e) was kept constant with a rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh) of 0.02, 0.03 and 0.06. The rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) was 10. The Reynolds numbers investigated (Re>90,000) are typical for combustor liner cooling configurations of gas turbines. Local heat transfer coefficients using the transient thermochromic liquid crystal technique and overall pressure losses were measured. The rib configurations were investigated numerically to visualize the flow pattern in the channel and to support the understanding of the experimental data. The results show that the highest heat transfer enhancement is obtained by rib configurations with a rib section-to-channel height ratio (Wr/H) of 1:1. W-shaped ribs achieve the highest heat transfer enhancement levels in channels with an aspect ratio of 2:1, 2W-shaped ribs in channels with an aspect ratio of 4:1 and 4W-shaped ribs in channels with an aspect ratio of 8:1. Furthermore, the pressure loss increases with increasing complexity of the rib geometry and blockage ratio.


Author(s):  
Lin Tian ◽  
Wei Bai ◽  
Shanhu Xue ◽  
Zipeng Huang ◽  
Qiuwang Wang

The unsteady turbulent flow and heat transfer in rectangular channel with periodic longitudinal vortex generators on up and bottom walls are investigated by standardized k-ε two equation turbulent model combined with standardized wall function which has been validated by steady experimental data. Influence of varying frequency and amplitude of inlet velocity varying by sine function on heat transfer and friction factor are discussed. It is found that parameters such as Tout, Tf, Tw, Nusselt number and the friction factor f vary with time periodically, phase difference occurred compared with inlet velocity. Pulsating frequency has little impact on time averaged Nusselt number. However, when amplitude increases from 0.2us to 0.8us, the heat transfer rate is augmented by about 4%. Furthermore, a critical frequency has been captured when amplitude equals to 0.8us for the channel studied. The current study will deepen understanding of unsteady flow in plate fuel assembly, which can be used in small-scale reactors.


Author(s):  
Guoguang Su ◽  
Hamn-Ching Chen ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
James D. Heidmann

Numerical predictions of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer are presented for rotating two-pass rectangular channel with 45-deg rib turbulators. Three channels with different aspect ratios (AR=1:1; AR=1:2; AR=1:4) were investigated. Detailed predictions of mean velocity, mean temperature, and Nusselt number for two Reynolds numbers (Re = 10,000 and Re = 100,000) were carried out. The rib height is fixed as constant and the rib-pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) is 10, but the rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratios (e/Dh) are 0.125, 0.094, and 0.078, for AR=1:1, AR=1:2, and AR=1:4 channel, respectively. The channel orientations are set at 90 deg, corresponding to the cooling passages between mid-portion and the leading edge of a turbine blade. The rotation number varies from 0.0 to 0.28 and the inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio varies from 0.13 to 0.40, respectively. The primary focus of this study is the effect of the channel aspect ratio on the nature of the flow and heat transfer enhancement in a rectangular ribbed channel under rotating conditions. A multi-block Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was employed in conjunction with a near-wall second-moment turbulence closure to provide detailed resolution of the Reynolds stresses and turbulent heat fluxes induced by the rib turbulators under both the stationary and rotating conditions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1044-1056
Author(s):  
Shahzada Zaman Shuja ◽  
Bekir Yilbas

Purpose – The heat transfer rates from the body to the working fluid can be improved through altering geometric configurations of the body and its arrangement in the flow system. One of the arrangements for this purpose is to locate the body at the channel inlet while the convection current opposes it. Since the flow field in the channel inlet influences the heat transfer rates, changing the aspect ratio and inclination of the body is expected to modify the flow field while enhancing the heat transfer rates. Consequently, investigation into the influence of the aspect ratios and tilting angles of the body on the heat transfer rates in the channel flow becomes essential. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Numerical simulation of flow in a channel with the presence of solid block is carried out. The block aspect ratio is changed while keeping the area of the block constant for all aspect ratios. The tilting angle is also incorporated analysis to examine its effect on the Nusselt number. Findings – The throttling effect of the block at channel inlet accelerates the flow between the channel wall and the block faces. This, in turn modifies the thermal boundary layer around the block. In this case, heat transfer rates increase considerably at the block faces where the flow acceleration suppresses the thermal boundary layer thickness. This is more pronounced for large block tilting angles. The Nusselt number attains low values for the block face opposing to the flow at the channel inlet and the back face of the block. This is attributed to the mixing of the thermal current emanating from the side faces of the block in the region close to the back surface. In this case, thermal boundary layer thickens and the heat transfer rates from the block reduce significantly. The Nusselt number improves with reducing the block aspect ratio, which is particularly true along the side faces of the block. In addition, the influence of the block tilting angle on the Nusselt number is considerable for the low block aspect ratios. Research limitations/implications – The model study is validated with the previous studies for the drag coefficient. The study covers all the aspects of the flow situations and discusses the resulting fluid field and the heat transfer rates from the block. Practical implications – It is an interesting work for cooling applications. The block aspect ratio and its tilting angle in the channel influence considerably the flow field and the Nusselt number variation around the block faces. Social implications – The cooling technology may be improved through implementing the findings of the current work. Originality/value – It is an original work and it has never been submitted to other journals.


Author(s):  
Wen-Lung Fu ◽  
Lesley M. Wright ◽  
Je-Chin Han

This paper experimentally studies the effects of the buoyancy force and channel aspect ratio on heat transfer in two-pass rotating rectangular channels with smooth walls and 45° ribbed walls. The channel aspect ratios include 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4. Four Reynolds numbers are studied: 5000, 10000, 25000 and 40000. The rotation speed is fixed at 550 rpm for all tests, and for each channel, two channel orientations are studied: 90° and 45° or 135°, with respect to the plane of rotation. Rib turbulators are placed on the leading and trailing walls of the channels at an angle of 45° to the flow direction. The ribs have a 1.59 by 1.59 mm square cross section, and the rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) is 10 for all tests. The effects of the local buoyancy parameter and channel aspect ratio on the regional Nusselt number ratio are presented. The results show that increasing the local buoyancy parameter increases the Nusselt number ratio on the trailing surface and decreases the Nusselt number ratio on the leading surface in the first pass for all channels. However, the trend of the Nusselt number ratio in the second pass is more complicated due to the strong effect of the 180° turn. Results are also presented for this critical turn region of the two-pass channels. In addition to these regions, the channel averaged heat transfer, friction factor, and thermal performance are determined for each channel. With the channels having comparable Nusselt number ratios, the 1:4 channel has the superior thermal performance because it incurs the least pressure penalty.


Author(s):  
Ridha Jmai ◽  
Brahim Ben Beya ◽  
Taieb Lili

Natural convection in a rectangular cavity with aspect ratio (Ax), partially heated and filled with a nanofluid (Cu-Water) has been studied numerically. Two heat sources with length (B) are placed on the opposite vertical walls; the remainder of the walls is maintained adiabatic while the horizontal walls are brought to a cold temperature. The equations governing the flow are solved using a finite volume home code using a multigrid technique. Among the parameters governing the flow, a detailed study on the effects of the aspect ratio (Ax) and the length of the source (B) on flow and heat transfer rate is given. The results are shown in terms of streamlines and isotherms. It was found that the transfer of heat significantly increases with the aspect ratio (Ax) and the length of the source (B). A correlation expressing the Nusselt number as a function of (Ax) and d is established.


Author(s):  
Xinjun Wang ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Daren Zheng ◽  
Jun Li

The flow and heat transfer characteristics of mist/air cooling in the rotating ribbed two-pass rectangular channel are numerically investigated using the CFD software ANSYS-CFX. In this article, a comparison in heat transfer performance between the mist/air cooling and the air-only cooling is performed. Additionally, the effect of the initial mist diameter, temperature, velocity and the channel rotation speed on the mist/air cooling performance is analysed. The results show that the droplet flow distance and Nusselt number of the mist/air cooling increase as the initial mist temperature decreases. In addition, as the initial mist diameter decreases, the diameter of mist on the whole channel decreases, resulting in the higher heat transfer, whilst the mist concentration also decreases, leading to the lower heat transfer. Therefore, there is an optimal initial mist diameter which makes the heat transfer performance best. Nevertheless, the droplet movement and heat transfer performance of mist/air cooling are nearly insensitive to the initial mist velocity. It is also noted that the Coriolis force increases with the channel rotation speed, causing the flow deflection becomes more obvious. Consequently, as the channel rotation speed increases, in the first passage the averaged Nusselt number on the trailing wall increases, and that on the leading wall decreases, while the trend in the second passage is reversed.


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