Heat transfer and fluid flow analysis of artificially roughened ducts having rib and groove roughness

Artificially roughness is one of the well known methods of enhancing heat transfer from the heat transfer surface in the form of repeated ribs, grooves or combination of ribs and groove (compound turbulators). The artificial roughness produced on the heat transferring surface is used in cooling of gas turbine blades, nuclear reactor, solar air heating systems etc. Solar air heaters have wide applications in low to moderate temperature range, namely, drying of foods, agricultural crops, seasoning of wood and space heating etc. Solar air heaters have low value of convective heat transfer coefficient between the working fluid (air) and the heat transferring surface, due to the formation of thin laminar viscous sub-layer on its surface. The heat transfer from the surface can be increased by breaking this laminar viscous sub layer. Hence, in the present work compound turbulators in the form of integral wedge shaped ribs with grooves are used on the heat transfer surface, to study its effect on the heat transfer coefficient (Nusselt number) and friction factor in the range of Reynolds number 3,000–18,000. The roughness produced on the absorber plate forms the wetted side of upper broad wall of the rectangular duct of solar air heater. The relative groove position (g/p) was varied from 0.4 to 0.8 and the wedge angle (Φ) was varied from 10° to 25°, relative roughness pitch (p/e) and relative roughness height (e/D) was maintained as 8.0 and 0.033 respectively. The aspect ratio of the rectangular duct was maintained as 8. The Nusselt number and friction factor of the artificially roughened ducts were determined experimentally and the corresponding values were compared with that of smooth surface duct. It is observed that wedge-groove roughened surface shows more enhancement in heat transfer compared to only rib roughened surface arrangement. The investigation revealed that Nusselt number increases 1.5–3 times, while the friction factor increases two to three folds that of the smooth surface duct in the range of operating parameters. It is also observed that in rib–groove roughness arrangement with relative groove position of 0.65 shows the maximum enhancement in the heat transfer compared to the other rib-groove roughness arrangements. Statistical correlations for the Nusselt number and friction factor have been developed by the regression method in terms of the operating and roughness parameters. A program was also developed in MATLAB for the calculation of thermal efficiency and thermal effectiveness. It was observed that the thermal efficiency is more for wedge angle of 15° and relative groove position of 0.65 and its value ranges from 42 to 73 %. The uncertainties in the measurements due to various instruments for the Reynolds number, Nusselt number, and friction factor have been estimated as ±3.8, ±4.54 and ±7.6 % respectively in the range of investigation made.     

An experimental investigation of heat transfer characteristics for turbulent flow over staggered ribs in a square duct

An experimental study of developing and fully developed turbulent air flow in a square duct with two opposite rib-roughened walls in which the ribs are attached in a staggered fashion was conducted to determine the heat transfer characteristics. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D_H) was 0.19, the rib pitch-to-height ratio (p/e) was 5.31. The streamwise temperature distribution was measured, and a law of the wall for the thermal boundary layer at each free-stream turbulence level was obtained. The effects of free-stream turbulence intensity with variations of 4–11% on heat transfer coefficients were also examined. Finally, the relationship between Nusselt number and Reynolds number was correlated. The results might be used in the design of turbine blade cooling channels.     

Heat transfer distribution in rectangular ducts with V-shaped ribs

 Heat transfer distributions are presented for a rectangular duct with two opposite wide walls arranged with V-shaped ribs pointing upstream or downstream relative to the main flow direction. The rectangular duct has an aspect ratio of 1/8. The parallel V-shaped circular ribs are arranged staggered on the two wide walls. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio is 0.06, with an attack angle of 60°. The pitch-to-height ratio equals 10. The tested Reynolds numbers range from 1000 to 6000. The test surface is sprayed with black paint and then liquid crystal, and a steady state method is adopted to obtain the temperature distribution between adjacent ribs. The secondary flow caused by the angled ribs creates different spanwise variation of the heat transfer coefficient on the rib-roughened wall for different V-rib orientations. Interaction between heat transfer and secondary flow is analyzed. In the streamwise direction, the temperature distribution shows a sawtooth behavior between a pair of adjacent ribs. Local Nusselt numbers are presented between a pair of adjacent ribs, and based on these the average Nusselt numbers are calculated to investigate the augmentation of heat transfer by the presence of the V-shaped ribs. Received on 15 May 2000     

Convective heat transfer in a square channel with angled ribs on two opposite walls

Detailed quantitative maps of the heat transfer distribution in a square channel with angled rib turbulators are measured by means of infrared (IR) thermography associated with the heated-thin-foil technique. Air flows in the channel where square ribs are mounted on two opposite walls at an angle of either 30° or 45° with respect to the duct axis. Two rib pitches, two different rib arrangements and two heating conditions are investigated. Results are presented in terms of local and averaged Nusselt numbers, which are normalised with the classical Dittus and Boelter correlation, for three different Reynolds numbers.     

On flow structure, heat transfer and pressure drop in varying aspect ratio two-pass rectangular channel with ribs at 45°

To increase the thermal efficiency of gas turbines, inlet temperature of gas is increased. This results in the requirement of cooling of gas turbine blades and vanes. Internal cooling of gas turbine blades and vanes is one of several options. Two-pass channels are provided with ribs to enhance heat transfer at the expense of an increased pressure drop. The space in the blade is limited and requires channels with small aspect ratios. Numerical simulations have been performed to investigate heat transfer, flow field and pressure loss in a two-pass channel equipped with 45° ribs with aspect ratio (W_in/H) equal to 1:3 in the inlet pass and 1:1 in the outlet pass with both connected together with a 180° bend. The results are compared with a higher aspect ratio channel (W_in/H = 1:2, inlet pass). In the ribbed channel, a decrease in pressure drop was observed with a decrease in the aspect ratio of the channel. The smaller aspect ratio channel not only allows using more cooling channels in the blade, but also results in more heat transfer enhancement. The divider-to-tip wall distance (W_el) has influence on the pressure drop, as well as on the heat transfer enhancement at the bend and outlet pass. Heat transfer decreases with decrease in aspect ratio of the inlet pass of the two-pass channel. With increase in divider-to-tip wall distance, heat transfer tries to attain a constant value.     

Heat transfer and flow temperature measurements in a rotating triangular channel with various rib arrangements

In the present study, the regionally-averaged heat transfer coefficients and flow temperature distributions were measured in an equilateral triangular channel with three different rib arrangements (α = 45, 90 and 135°). To measure regionally-averaged heat transfer coefficients in the channel, two rows of copper blocks and a single heater were installed on two ribbed walls. The fluid temperature distributions were obtained using a thermocouple-array. The rotation number ranged from 0.0 to 0.1 with a fixed Reynolds number of 10,000. For the 90° ribs, the heat transfer coefficients on the pressure side surface were increased significantly with rotation, while the suction side surface had lower heat transfer coefficients than the stationary channel. For the angled ribs, rib-induced secondary flow dominated the heat transfer characteristics and high heat transfer rates were observed on the regions near the inner wall for the 45° angled ribs and near the leading edge for the 135° angled ribs.     

Heat transfer and pressure drop measurements in rib-roughened rectangular ducts

In the present study, the thermal and hydraulic performance of three rib-roughened rectangular ducts is investigated. The aspect ratio of the ducts was 1 to 8, and the ribs were arranged staggered on the two wide walls. Three rib configurations were tested: parallel ribs and V-shaped ribs pointing upstream or downstream of the main flow direction. For all cases, the rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio was 0.06, with an attack angle of 60° and a pitch-to-height ratio of 10. The Reynolds number range was from 1000 to 6000. Liquid crystal thermography was employed in the heat transfer experiment to demonstrate detailed temperature distribution between a pair of ribs on the ribbed surfaces. The secondary flows caused by the inclined ribs create a significant spanwise variation of the heat transfer coefficients on the rib-roughened wall with high heat transfer coefficient at one end of the rib and low value at the other. In the streamwise direction between two consecutive ribs, the temperature distribution shows a sawtooth fashion because of flow reattachment. Based on the local heat transfer coefficients, the average Nusselt numbers were estimated as weighted mean values. Isothermal pressure drop data were taken and presented as Fanning friction factors. The ducts are compared to each other by considering both heat transfer and friction factor performance.     

3D Numerical study of the effect of aspect ratio on mixed convection air flow in upward solar air heater

A 3D Numerical study of mixed convection air flow in upward solar air heater with large spanwise aspect ratio (A = 10 to 40) was performed using CFD commercial code Fluent 14.5 (ANSYS). The main objective of this study is to investigate the channel height's effect (aspect ratio) on flow pattern and heat transfer in upward solar air heater in the particular case of low Re and high aspect ratio. The bottom plate (absorber) was submitted to Constant Heat Flux (CHF) in the range of 200 to 1000 W/m² and Reynolds number was varied from 50 to 1000. Our results are in concordance with most of authors conclusions about Poiseuille–Rayleigh–Benard flows. In mixed convection, increasing heat flux enhances heat transfer unlike forced convection flows. Simulation results of flow visualizations and Nusselt number calculations have shown that depending on Ri*, the velocity and temperature distributions in SAH vary greatly with the channel's height. The obtained results were different from previous studies. Indeed, our investigation of channel's height was achieved for the same heat flux but different Grashof numbers. For low channel's heights (high aspect ratio), increasing heat flux has not a significant effect but for higher channel's heights, an augmentation of heat flux enhances buoyancy effects in the flow and causes high turbulence. Also, increasing Reynolds number in low channel's heights (high A), can enhance substantially heat transfer. For higher channel's heights (low A), increasing Reynolds number decreases Ri* and thus buoyancy forces. Heat transfer is reduced and so Nusselt number. The obtained results may be very useful for engineers in designing and testing solar collectors.     

Thermal and friction characteristics of turbulent flow through rectangular and square ducts with transverse ribs and wire-coil inserts

The heat transfer and the pressure drop characteristics of turbulent flow of air through rectangular and square ducts with internal transverse rib turbulators on two opposite surfaces of the ducts and with wire-coil inserts have been studied experimentally. Circular duct has also been used. The transverse ribs in combination with wire-coil inserts have been found to perform better than either ribs or wire-coil inserts acting alone. The flow friction and thermal characteristics are governed by duct aspect ratio, coil helix angle and wire diameter of the coil, rib height and rib spacing, Reynolds number and Prandtl number. Correlations developed for friction factor and Nusselt number have predicted the experimental data satisfactorily. It has been found that on the basis of constant pumping power, up to 35% heat duty increase occurs for the combined ribs and wire-coil inserts case compared to the individual ribs and wire-coil inserts cases in the measured experimental parameters space. On the constant heat duty basis, the pumping power has been reduced up to 20% for the combined enhancement geometry than the individual enhancement geometries.     

Heat transfer and interfacial drag in countercurrent steam-water stratified flow

Local condensation heat transfer coefficients and interfacial shear stresses have been measured for countercurrent stratified flow of steam and subcooled water in rectangular channels over a wide range of inclination angles (4–87°) at two aspect ratios. Dimensionless correlations for the interfacial friction factor have been developed that show that it is a function of the liquid Reynolds number only. Empirical correlations of the heat transfer coefficient, based upon the bulk flow properties, have also been set up for the whole body of data encompassing the different inclination angles and aspect ratios. These indicate that the Froude number as a dimensionless gas velocity is a better correlating parameter than the gas Reynolds number. As an alternative approach, a simple dimensionless relationship for the beat transfer coefficient was obtained by analogy between heat and momentum transfer through the interface. Finally, a turbulence-centered model has been modified by using measured interfacial parameters for the turbulent velocity and length scales, resulting in good agreement with the data.     

Convective heat transfer in ribbed channels with a 180° turn

Detailed quantitative maps of the heat transfer distribution near a 180° sharp turn of a square channel with rib turbulators are measured by means of infrared thermography associated with the heated-thin-foil technique. Air flows into the channel where ribs are mounted on two opposite walls and placed at 60° with respect to its axis. Two rib pitches, two different rib arrangements and two heating conditions are investigated. Results are presented in terms of local and averaged Nusselt numbers which are normalized with the classical Dittus and Boelter correlation for three different Reynolds numbers.     

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of natural convection in nanofluid-filled 2D long enclosures at presence of magnetic field

In this paper, the effects of a magnetic field on natural convection flow in filled long enclosures with Cu/water nanofluid have been analyzed by lattice Boltzmann method. This study has been carried out for the pertinent parameters in the following ranges: the Rayleigh number of base fluid, Ra = 10³–10⁵, the volumetric fraction of nanoparticles between 0 and 6 %, the aspect ratio of the enclosure between A = 0.5 and 2. The Hartmann number has been varied from Ha = 0 to 90 with interval 30 while the magnetic field is considered at inclination angles of θ = 0°, 30°, 60° and 90°. Results show that the heat transfer decreases by the increment of Hartmann number for various Rayleigh numbers and the aspect ratios. Heat transfer decreases with the growth of the aspect ratio but this growth causes the effect of the nanoparticles to increase. The magnetic field augments the effect of the nanoparticles at high Rayleigh numbers (Ra = 10⁵). The effect of the nanoparticles rises for high Hartmann numbers when the aspect ratio increases. The rise in the magnetic field inclination improves heat transfer at aspect ratio of A = 0.5.     

Heat transfer investigation of an array of jets impinging on a target plate with detached ribs

This combined experimental and numerical study focuses on impingement jet cooling in combination with detached rib turbulators on a flat target for turbomachinery applications. The investigated impingement array consists of an impingement plate with 9 × 9 jet holes with diameter D and a target plate with detached ribs installed beneath the jet hole. The effects of different separation distances (H/D=3-5), jet Reynolds numbers (15,000-35,000) and rib clearances (0.3D and 0.08D) are investigated. The heat transfer is investigated experimentally by the transient liquid crystal (TLC) method. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is carried out within the software package ANSYS CFX. This model uses a steady-state three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach with the Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model. Numerical simulations allow detailed insight into the fluid mechanics of the complex flow field and complement experimental measurements. Detached ribs in the impingement channel have a strong influence on the flow field and can increase the global Nusselt number by up to 4% if the ribs have adiabatic boundary conditions. The usage of the detached rib reduces the relative discharge coefficient by up to 11% compared to a smooth target.     

Flow and Heat Transfer in a High-Aspect-Ratio Rib-Roughed Cooling Channel with Longitudinal Intersecting Ribs

This paper describes a detailed numerical investigation of a stationary high-aspect-ratio rib-roughed rectangular cooling channel with longitudinal intersecting ribs near the gas turbine blade trailing edge region. In order to overcome the heat transfer performance degeneration in the highaspect- ratio channel, longitudinal intersecting ribs are arranged on the channel bottom surface. The effect of the number of longitudinal intersecting ribs on the flow and heat transfer is systematically studied in the Reynolds number range Re = 10 000–30 000. The results show that a heat transfer augmentation region exists just downstream the junction between the longitudinal rib and the angled rib due to additional secondary flows. With more longitudinal intersecting ribs, the heat transfer distributions on the channel surfaces are more uniform. Though the pressure loss is also enlarged with an increase in the number of longitudinal intersecting ribs, the overall thermal efficiency increases in the entire range of Reynolds numbers investigated. The configuration with two sets of longitudinal intersecting ribs shows the best overall thermal efficiency.     

Impingement cooling in a rotating curved square annular duct with crossflow effect from Rib-roughened surfaces

An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the effects of jets in crossflow on impingement heat transfer from rib-roughened curved duct with rotational speeds of 120 and 240 rpm. The jet impinged on curved surface in crossflow having repeated square ribs (3 2 3mm). The curvature of the duct was fixed and has a value of 300 mm. The rib height (e) was fixed at 1.5 mm and pitch-to-height ratio (p/e) kept at 2. The study covered jet Reynolds number in the range 6500 to 26000, and duct stream crossflow Reynolds number from 3250 to 13000 based on jet nozzle diameter, respectively, which gave M = 0.12 to 2. Results were presented for rotational, crossflow, roughened surfaces and curvature effects on local Nusselt numbers. Significant heat transfer enhancement was found for the present physical geometry and within the ranges of operating parameters considered in the study.     

Heat transfer around small square ribs mounted on an adiabatic plane channel

Numerical analyses have been conducted concerning the heat transfer of four small square ribs mounted along one wall of flat parallel adiabatic walls, for the purpose of obtaining the fundamental informations for cooling technique of recent IC package under conditions of constant heat flux and of low Reynolds number range based on the rib height (Re=35–210) and the laminar flow field. The local and average Nusselt numbers around ribs have been obtained and discussed for the following two conditions: (1) all four ribs are heated, (2) only an objective rib of the four ribs is heated. Relations between these conditions are also considered with the streamwise gap between ribs.Die numerische Untersuchung bezieht sich auf den Wärmeübergang von vier kurzen Rechteckrippen, die entlang der einen von zwei ebenen, parallelen und adiabaten Wänden angesetzt sind. Hierdurch sollten grundlegende Informationen für die Kühltechnik neuerer IC-Anordnungen unter der Voraussetzung konstanten Wärmeflusses im Bereich niedriger Reynoldzahlen (Re=35–210) bezüglich des laminaren Strömungsfeldes gewonnen werden. Lokale und gemittelte Nusseltzahlen an den Rippen wurden unter folgenden Bedingungen ermittelt: (1) alle vier Rippen sind beheizt; (2) nur eine der vier Rippen ist beheizt. Ferner wurde der Einfluß des Rippenabstandes untersucht.     

Experimental investigation of mixed convection heat transfer in a horizontal and inclined rectangular channel

 Mixed convection heat transfer in rectangular channels has been investigated experimentally under various operating conditions. The lower surface of the channel is subjected to a uniform heat flux, sidewalls are insulated and adiabatic, and the upper surface is exposed to the surrounding fluid. Experiments were conducted for Pr=0.7, aspect ratios AR=5 and 10, inclination angles 0° ≤ θ ≤ 30°, Reynolds numbers 50 ≤ Re ≤ 1000, and modified Grashof numbers Gr*=7.0 × 10⁵ to 4.0 × 10⁷. From the parametric study, local Nusselt number distributions were obtained and effects of channel inclination, surface heat flux and Reynolds number on the onset of instability were investigated. Results related to the buoyancy affected secondary flow and the onset of instability have been discussed. Some of the results obtained from the experimental measurements are also compared with the literature, and a good agreement was observed. The onset of instability was found to move upstream for increasing Grashof number and increasing aspect ratio. On the other hand, onset of instability was delayed for increasing Reynolds number and increasing inclination angle. Received on 19 March 2001 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Detailed heat transfer measurements inside straight and tapered two-pass channels with rib turbulators

Most of the studies on gas turbine blade internal channels have focused on constant cross-sectional areas from entrance to turn. Gas turbine blades are typically tapered from hub to tip to reduce thermal loading. These channels exist inside high-performance turbine blades for providing effective cooling to the blade external surface, which is exposed to high-temperature gas flow. Heat transfer measurements are presented for both the straight and tapered square channels including the turn region with and without rib turbulators. The straight channels will have a uniform square cross-section area of 5.08×5.08 cm². For the tapered channels, the square cross-sectional area reduces from entrance into the first pass (5.08×5.08 cm²) to the 180° turn (2.54×2.54 cm²) and then expands from turn to exit in the second pass (5.08×5.08 cm²). The heat transfer results for tapered channels are compared with results for straight channels. Results show that heat transfer in tapered smooth channels is enhanced significantly due to flow acceleration in the first pass, a combination of taper and turn and flow deceleration in the second pass. Overall, the tapered channels significantly produce higher heat transfer enhancements compared to the Dittus–Boelter correlation for fully developed flow especially in the after-turn region. Based on the results from this study, the heat transfer inside tapered channels in the after-turn region cannot be predicted by calculating local Reynolds numbers and using straight channel heat transfer correlations. However, the first pass Nusselt number enhancement distributions are similar for both straight and tapered channels when normalized using the local Nusselt number based on local Reynolds number. The difference in the after-turn region between the straight and tapered channels is reduced with the addition of rib turbulators.     

Experimental investigation of the effect of variously-shaped ribs on local heat transfer on the outer wall of the turning portion of a U-channel inside solar air heater

In the present work, an experimental investigation of convective heat transfer and pressure drop was carried out for the turning portion of a U-channel where the outer wall was equipped with ribs. The shape of the ribs was varied. The investigation aims to give guidelines for improving the thermo-hydraulic performance of a solar air heater at the turning portion of a U-channel. Both the U-channel and the ribs were made in acrylic material to allow optical access for measuring the surface temperature by using a high-resolution technique based on narrow band thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC R35C5 W) and a CCD camera placed to face the turning portion of the U-channel. The uncertainties were estimated to 5 and 7 % for the Nusselt number and friction factor, respectively. The pressure drop was approximately the same for all the considered shapes of the ribs while the dimpled rib case gave the highest heat transfer coefficient while the grooved rib presented the highest performance index.     

Multiplicity of steady solutions in a two-sided lid-driven cavity with different aspect ratios

This study presents a continuation method to calculate flow bifurcation in a two-sided lid-driven cavity with different aspect ratios for anti-parallel motion. In anti-parallel motion, the top and bottom walls of the cavity move in opposite directions simultaneously, while the two walls both moving to the right give parallel motion at the same speed. Comprehensive bifurcation diagrams of the cavity flows with different aspect ratios of the cavities are derived via Keller’s continuation method, and linear- stability analysis is used to identify the nature of the various flow solutions. The Reynolds number (1 ≤ Re ≤ 1,200) is used as the continuation parameter to trace the solution curves. In anti-parallel motion, the evolution of the bifurcation diagrams in cases with different aspect ratios (1 ≤ AR ≤ 2.5) is illustrated. Two stable symmetric flows and one stable asymmetric flow are identified, and the existent regions of the stable flows in the aspect ratios and Reynolds numbers are distinguished. The newly found asymmetric flow state can be obtained at a high aspect ratio and a low Reynolds number.