Abstract
This work aims to combine the effects of the near wall and core flow disturbance by proposing novel wing-shaped tabulators. The new tabulators are fabricated with the fused deposition modeling (3D printing) technology. To explore their effects on detailed flow fields, local temperature distributions, and pressure drops in a two-pass square channel, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Infrared Thermography (IR camera), and pressure transducer measurements are performed. The tabulator pitch, clearance, and truncation gap ratio based on the channel hydraulic diameter of 45.5 mm are respectively fixed at 0.7, 0.25 and 0.06. Varied parameters include tabulator attack angle (α = 10°, 15°, 20°, and 30°), maximum thickness to chord line ratio (t/C = 0.08, 0.13, 0.16, 0.20, and 0.23), and bulk Reynolds number (Re = 5,000–20,000). From the experimental results and flow parameters analyzed, the dimensionless spanwise-averaged mean transverse velocity and cross-sectionally averaged vorticity magnitude are identified to be the most relevant ones to spanwise-averaged local Nusselt number ratio in the first and second pass. Among all examined cases and previous data with Fanning friction factor ratio (f¯/fo) less than 50, the case with α = 20° and t/C = 0.20 attains the highest thermal performance factor and overall Nusselt number ratio (Nu¯/Nuo) up to 1.68 and 5.36, respectively. Furthermore, empirical correlations of Nu¯/Nuo and f¯/fo versus α, t/C, and Re are proposed.