The objective of this study was to characterize the heat transfer performance of a dimpled surface in an impinging jet flow field. Using a statistical design of experiments approach we designed 8 (23) test plates to study the effects of dimple spacing, dimple depth and dimple diameter and compared them to smooth plate heat transfer. The plates were placed opposite a square jet and tests were run for Reynolds numbers based on jet hydraulic diameter of 10,000 to 30,000 at a range of jet to plate spacings. Plate averaged heat transfer coefficients, based on actual surface area (including dimple area) were measured under steady state conditions. The results show that the dimple spacing to diameter ratio has the most significant effect on heat transfer performance at high velocities, while the dimple depth to diameter ratio is more significant at lower velocities. The effect of dimple diameter was found to be significant only under poor heat transfer conditions. Particle Image Velocimetry images of the dimple surface flow field showed enhanced entrainment at high velocities which may explain why the dimple spacing to diameter effect is more significant at high velocities.
