Multi‐objective optimization of a rotating cooling channel with staggered pin‐fins for heat transfer augmentation

A rotating channel with staggered pin‐fins is formulated numerically and optimized for performance (heat transfer/required pumping power) using a Kriging meta‐model and hybrid multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm. Two design variables related to cooling channel height, pin diameter, and spacing between the pins are selected for optimization, and two‐objective functions related to the heat transfer and friction loss are employed. A design of experiment is performed, and 20 designs are generated by Latin hypercube sampling. The objective function values are evaluated using a Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes solver, and a Kriging model is constructed to obtain a Pareto‐optimal front through a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm. Rotation in a cooling channel with staggered pin‐fins induces Coriolis force that causes a heat transfer discrepancy between the trailing (pressure) and leading (suction) surfaces, with a higher Nusselt number on the trailing surface. The tradeoff between the two competing objective functions is determined, and the distribution of the Pareto‐optimal solutions in the design space is discussed through k‐means clustering. In the optimal designs, with a decrease in spacing between the pins, heat transfer is enhanced whereas friction loss is increased. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐dimensional Cartesian cut cell method for incompressible viscous flow with irregular domains

A three‐dimensional Cartesion cut cell method is presented for the simulations of incompressible viscous flows with irregular domains. A new model (referred to as ‘6+N’ model) is proposed to describe arbitrarily shaped cut cells and treat all the cells as polyhedrons with 6+N faces. The finite volume discretization of the Navier–Stokes equation is then implemented by using the ‘6+N’ model to separate the surface flux integrals into two parts, that is, the fluxes through the basic face of the hexahedron and those through the cutting surfaces. The previously proposed Kitta Cube algorithm and volume computer‐aided design platform (J. Comput. Aided. Des. 2005; 37(4): 1509–1520. Doi:10.1016/j.cad.2005.03.006) are adopted to generate cut cells and provide shape data and physical attributes for the numerical analysis. A modified SIMPLE‐based smoothing pressure correction scheme is applied to suppress checkerboard pressure oscillations caused by the collocated arrangement of velocities and pressure. The calculation accuracy of the numerical method expressed by L₁ and L _∞ norm errors is first demonstrated by the simulation of a pipe flow. Then its feasibility, efficiency, and potential in engineering applications are verified by applying it to solve natural convections between concentric spheres and between eccentric spheres. The heat transfer patterns in eccentric spheres are also obtained by using the numerical method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spectral‐element discontinuous Galerkin thermal lattice Boltzmann method for conjugate heat transfer applications

We present a spectral‐element discontinuous Galerkin thermal lattice Boltzmann method for fluid–solid conjugate heat transfer applications. Using the discrete Boltzmann equation, we propose a numerical scheme for conjugate heat transfer applications on unstructured, non‐uniform grids. We employ a double‐distribution thermal lattice Boltzmann model to resolve flows with variable Prandtl (Pr) number. Based upon its finite element heritage, the spectral‐element discontinuous Galerkin discretization provides an effective means to model and investigate thermal transport in applications with complex geometries. Our solutions are represented by the tensor product basis of the one‐dimensional Legendre–Lagrange interpolation polynomials. A high‐order discretization is employed on body‐conforming hexahedral elements with Gauss–Lobatto–Legendre quadrature nodes. Thermal and hydrodynamic bounce‐back boundary conditions are imposed via the numerical flux formulation that arises because of the discontinuous Galerkin approach. As a result, our scheme does not require tedious extrapolation at the boundaries, which may cause loss of mass conservation. We compare solutions of the proposed scheme with an analytical solution for a solid–solid conjugate heat transfer problem in a 2D annulus and illustrate the capture of temperature continuities across interfaces for conductivity ratio γ > 1. We also investigate the effect of Reynolds (Re) and Grashof (Gr) number on the conjugate heat transfer between a heat‐generating solid and a surrounding fluid. Steady‐state results are presented for Re = 5?40 and Gr = 10⁵?10⁶. In each case, we discuss the effect of Re and Gr on the heat flux (i.e. Nusselt number Nu) at the fluid–solid interface. Our results are validated against previous studies that employ finite‐difference and continuous spectral‐element methods to solve the Navier–Stokes equations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Smagorinsky‐based subgrid‐scale models in a finite‐volume computation

Smagorinsky‐based models are assessed in a turbulent channel flow simulation at Re_b=2800 and Re_b=12500. The Navier–Stokes equations are solved with three different grid resolutions by using a co‐located finite‐volume method. Computations are repeated with Smagorinsky‐based subgrid‐scale models. A traditional Smagorinsky model is implemented with a van Driest damping function. A dynamic model assumes a similarity of the subgrid and the subtest Reynolds stresses and an explicit filtering operation is required. A top‐hat test filter is implemented with a trapezoidal and a Simpson rule. At the low Reynolds number computation none of the tested models improves the results at any grid level compared to the calculations with no model. The effect of the subgrid‐scale model is reduced as the grid is refined. The numerical implementation of the test filter influences on the result. At the higher Reynolds number the subgrid‐scale models stabilize the computation. An analysis of an accurately resolved flow field reveals that the discretization error overwhelms the subgrid term at Re_b=2800 in the most part of the computational domain. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A σ‐coordinate three‐dimensional numerical model for surface wave propagation

A three‐dimensional numerical model based on the full Navier–Stokes equations (NSE) in σ‐coordinate is developed in this study. The σ‐coordinate transformation is first introduced to map the irregular physical domain with the wavy free surface and uneven bottom to the regular computational domain with the shape of a rectangular prism. Using the chain rule of partial differentiation, a new set of governing equations is derived in the σ‐coordinate from the original NSE defined in the Cartesian coordinate. The operator splitting method (Li and Yu, Int. J. Num. Meth. Fluids 1996; 23 : 485–501), which splits the solution procedure into the advection, diffusion, and propagation steps, is used to solve the modified NSE. The model is first tested for mass and energy conservation as well as mesh convergence by using an example of water sloshing in a confined tank. Excellent agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained. The model is then used to simulate two‐ and three‐dimensional solitary waves propagating in constant depth. Very good agreements between numerical results and analytical solutions are obtained for both free surface displacements and velocities. Finally, a more realistic case of periodic wave train passing through a submerged breakwater is simulated. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental data are promising. The model is proven to be an accurate tool for consequent studies of wave‐structure interaction. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical study of Prandtl effect on MHD flow at a lid‐driven porous cavity

In this paper, the lattice Boltzmann method is used to study the Prandtl number effect on flow structure and heat transfer rates in a magnetohydrodynamic flow mixed convection in a lid‐driven cavity filled with a porous medium. The right and left walls are at constant but different temperatures (θ_h and θ_c), while the other walls are adiabatic. Gallium and salt water (0.02 < Pr < 13.4) are used as samples of the electroconducting fluids in the cavity. Typical sets of streamlines and isotherms are presented to analyze the flow patterns set up by the competition among the forced flow created by the lid‐driven wall, the buoyancy force of the fluid and the magnetic force of the applied magnetic field. Mathematical formulations in the porous media were constructed based on the Brinkman–Forchheimer model, while the multidistribution‐function model was used for the magnetic field effect. Numerical results were obtained and the effects of the Prandtl number and the other effective parameters such as Richardson, Hartman, and Darcy numbers were investigated. It was found that the fluid fluctuations within the cavity were reduced by increasing the Hartman number. A similar pattern was observed for the Darcy number reduction. Heat transfer was essentially dominated by the conduction for the low Prandtl number and forced convection dominated as the Prandtl number increased. Also, the average Nusselt number was raised by increasing the Prandtl number. It was discovered that a remarkable heat transfer enhancement of up to 28% could be reached by increasing the Prandtl number (from 0.02 to 13.4) at constant Richardson and Darcy numbers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A fourth‐order compact finite difference scheme for the steady stream function–vorticity formulation of the Navier–Stokes/Boussinesq equations

A fourth‐order compact finite difference scheme on the nine‐point 2D stencil is formulated for solving the steady‐state Navier–Stokes/Boussinesq equations for two‐dimensional, incompressible fluid flow and heat transfer using the stream function–vorticity formulation. The main feature of the new fourth‐order compact scheme is that it allows point‐successive overrelaxation (SOR) or point‐successive underrelaxation iteration for all Rayleigh numbers Ra of physical interest and all Prandtl numbers Pr attempted. Numerical solutions are obtained for the model problem of natural convection in a square cavity with benchmark solutions and compared with some of the accurate results available in the literature. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An enthalpy‐preserving shock‐capturing term for residual distribution schemes

In this contribution, we investigate strategies to perform shock‐capturing computation of steady hypersonic flow fields by means of residual distribution schemes. The ultimate objective is the computation of flow solutions for which the correct upstream enthalpy value is recovered in the postshock region. To this end, the parallelism existing between the classical Bx scheme and the stabilized finite element techniques is exploited. The simple Lax‐Friedrichs dissipation term is leveraged to build two new residual distribution schemes. Upon testing on both inviscid and viscous steady problems, solutions obtained with one of the two schemes are shown to recover the correct upstream total enthalpy level in the postshock region. This last scheme provides also improved wall pressure and skin friction predictions; heat transfer predictions are, unfortunately, similar to those offered by the Bx scheme. A conjecture for explaining this behavior is exposed.     

Melting heat transfer in the stagnation‐point flow of an upper‐convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid past a stretching sheet

The steady laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer past a stretching sheet arre considered. Upper‐convected Maxwell (UCM) fluid is treated as a rheological model. The resulting nonlinear differential system is solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). The influence of melting parameter (M), Prandtl number (Pr), Deborah number (β) and stretching ratio (A = a/c) on the velocity and temperature profiles is thoroughly examined. It is noticed that fields are effected appreciably with the variation of parameters. Furthermore, it is seen that the local Nusselt number is a decreasing function of melting parameter. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Three‐dimensional modeling of non‐hydrostatic free‐surface flows on unstructured grids

A three‐dimensional numerical model is presented for the simulation of unsteady non‐hydrostatic shallow water flows on unstructured grids using the finite volume method. The free surface variations are modeled by a characteristics‐based scheme, which simulates sub‐critical and super‐critical flows. Three‐dimensional velocity components are considered in a collocated arrangement with a σ‐coordinate system. A special treatment of the pressure term is developed to avoid the water surface oscillations. Convective and diffusive terms are approximated explicitly, and an implicit discretization is used for the pressure term to ensure exact mass conservation. The unstructured grid in the horizontal direction and the σ coordinate in the vertical direction facilitate the use of the model in complicated geometries. Solution of the non‐hydrostatic equations enables the model to simulate short‐period waves and vertically circulating flows. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reynolds‐stress modelling of M = 2.25 shock‐wave/turbulent boundary‐layer interaction

M = 2.25 shock‐wave/turbulent‐boundary‐layer interactions over a compression ramp for several angles (8, 13 and 18°) at Reynolds‐number Re=7 × 10³ were simulated with three low‐Reynolds second‐moment closures and a linear low‐Reynolds standard k–ε model. A detailed assessment of the turbulence closures by comparison with both mean‐flow and turbulent experimental quantities is presented. The Reynolds‐stress model which is wall‐topology free and which uses an optimized redistribution closure, is in good agreement with experimental data both for wall‐pressure and mean‐velocity profiles. Detailed analysis of three components of the Reynolds‐stress tensor (comparison with measurements and transport‐equation budgets) provides a critical evaluation of full Reynolds‐stress models for the separated supersonic compression ramp. The discrepancy observed in the shock‐wave foot region, between computations and measurements for the Reynolds‐stresses profiles, could be explained by considering the experimental shock‐wave oscillation and directions for future modelling work are indicated. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Internal flow numerical simulation of a cross‐flow fan in refrigerant operating condition using user‐defined functions

In the paper, a cross‐flow fan in refrigerant operating condition is systematically simulated using user‐defined functions. Three‐dimensional simulations are acquired with Navier–Stokes equations coupled with k–ε turbulence model, and internal flow characteristics of an indoor split‐type air conditioner are obtained, which is mainly composed of cross‐flow fan and heat exchanger. It has systematically been simulated in the isothermal flow condition that the performance of cross‐flow fan may be reduced easily with dry or humid air, and in the refrigerant operating condition in which user‐defined functions are applied to the humid air, considered as a mixture of dry air and vapor. A density‐modulated function is adopted to deal with the condensation of the vapor at the heat‐transfer region approximately. The results show flow mechanism of the two gas‐phase flow, including phase‐vary process. The distribution of the parameters is not uniform at the inlet of the machine, the intensity and position of pressure and velocity vary along the axial direction of the fan, the distribution of vapor volume fraction and turbulent intensity in heat‐transfer region is obtained, and the external characteristic data of the indoor machine are obtained and analyzed. Compared with the experimental data, the calculated characteristic curves and designed parameters are on target. © British Crown Copyright 2010/MOD. Reproduced with permission. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of thermo‐solutal stratification on recirculation flow patterns in a backward‐facing step channel flow

This paper presents results on the combined effect of thermo‐solutal buoyancy forces on the recirculatory flow behavior in a horizontal channel with backward‐facing step and the ensuing impact on heat and mass transfer phenomena. The governing equations for double diffusive mixed convection are represented in velocity–vorticity form of momentum equations, velocity Poisson equations, energy and concentration equations. Galerkin's finite‐element method has been employed to solve the governing equations. Recirculatory flow fields with heat and mass transfer are simulated for opposing and aiding thermo‐solutal buoyancy forces by assuming suitable boundary conditions for energy and concentration equations. The effect of Richardson number (0.1?Ri?10) and buoyancy ratio (?10?N?10) on the recirculation bubble and Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are studied in detail. For Richardson number greater than unity, distinct variations in the gradients of Nusselt number and Sherwood number with buoyancy ratio are observed for flow regimes with opposing and aiding buoyancy forces. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lattice‐Boltzmann and meshless point collocation solvers for fluid flow and conjugate heat transfer

The applicability and performance of the lattice‐Boltzmann (LB) and meshless point collocation methods as CFD solvers in flow and conjugate heat transfer processes are investigated in this work. Lid‐driven cavity flow and flow in a slit with an obstacle including heat transfer are considered as case studies. A comparison of the computational efficiency accuracy of the two methods with that of a finite volume method as implemented in a commercial package (ANSYS CFX, ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA) is made. Utilizing the analogy between heat and mass transfer, an advection–diffusion LB model was adopted to simulate the heat transfer part of the slit flow problem followed by a rigorous mapping of the mass transfer variables to the heat transfer quantities of interest, thus circumventing the need for a thermal LB model. Direct comparison among the results of the three methods revealed excellent agreement over a wide range of Reynolds and Prandtl number values. Furthermore, an integrated computational scheme is proposed, utilizing the rapid convergence of the LB model in the flow part of the conjugate heat transfer problem with that of the meshless collocation method for the heat transfer part. The meshless treatment remains sufficiently rapid even for conduction‐controlled processes in contrast to the LB method, which is very rapid in the convection‐controlled case only. A single, common computational grid, composed of regularly distributed nodes is used, saving significant computational and coding time and ensuring convergence of the discrete Laplacian operator in the heat transfer part of the computations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A non‐linear k–ε model with realizability for prediction of flows around bluff bodies

The incompressible flow around bluff bodies (a square cylinder and a cube) is investigated numerically using turbulence models. A non‐linear k–ε model, which can take into account the anisotropy of turbulence with less CPU time and computer memory then RSM or LES, is adopted as a turbulence model. In tuning of the model coefficients of the non‐linear terms are adjusted through the examination of previous experimental studies in simple shear flows. For the tuning of the coefficient in the eddy viscosity (=C_μ), the realizability constraints are derived in three types of basic 2D flow patterns, namely, a simple shear flow, flow around a saddle and a focal point. C_μ is then determined as a function of the strain and rotation parameters to satisfy the realizability. The turbulence model is first applied to a 2D flow around a square cylinder and the model performance for unsteady flows is examined focussing on the period and the amplitude of the flow oscillation induced by Karman vortex shedding. The applicability of the model to 3D flows is examined through the computation of the flow around a surface‐mounted cubic obstacle. The numerical results show that the present model performs satisfactorily to reproduce complex turbulent flows around bluff bodies. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of developing turbulent flow in 90°‐curved ducts using linear and non‐linear low‐Re k–ε models

This paper reports the outcome of applying two different low‐Reynolds‐number eddy‐viscosity models to resolve the complex three‐dimensional motion that arises in turbulent flows in ducts with 90^° bends. For the modelling of turbulence, the Launder and Sharma low‐Re k–ε model and a recently produced variant of the cubic non‐linear low‐Re k–ε model have been employed. In this paper, developing turbulent flow through two different 90^° bends is examined: a square bend, and a rectangular bend with an aspect ratio of 6. The numerical results indicate that for the bend of square cross‐section the curvature induces a strong secondary flow, while for the rectangular cross‐section the secondary motion is confined to the corner regions. For both curved ducts, the secondary motion persists downstream of the bend and eventually slowly disappears. For the bend of square cross‐section, comparisons indicate that both turbulence models can produce reasonable predictions. For the bend of rectangular cross‐section, for which a wider range of data is available, while both turbulence models produce satisfactory predictions of the mean flow field, the non‐linear k–ε model returns superior predictions of the turbulence field and also of the pressure and friction coefficients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the performance of sudden‐expansion pipe without/with cross‐flow injection: experimental and numerical studies

The paper explores the possibilities that different turbulence closures offer, for in‐depth analysis of a complex flow. The case under investigation is steady, turbulent flow in a pipe with sudden expansion without/with normal‐to‐wall injection through jets. This is a typical geometry where generation of turbulence energy takes place, due to sudden change in boundary conditions. This study is aimed at investigating the capability of a developed computational program by the present authors with three different turbulence models to calculate the mean flow variables. Three two‐equation models are implemented, namely the standard linear k ? ε model, the low Reynolds number k ? ε model and the cubic nonlinear eddy viscosity (NLEV) k ? ε model. The performance of the chosen turbulence models is investigated with regard to the available data in the literature including velocity profiles, turbulent kinetic energy and reattachment position in a pipe expansion. In order to further assess the reliability of the turbulence models, an experimental program was conducted by the present authors also at the fluid mechanics laboratory of Menoufiya University. Preliminary measurements, including the surface pressure along the two walls of the expansion pipe and the pressure drop without and with the presence of different arrangements of wall jets produced by symmetrical or asymmetrical fluid cross‐flow injection, are introduced. The results of the present studies demonstrate the superiority of the cubic NLEV k ? ε model in predicting the flow characteristics over the entire domain. The simple low Reynolds number k ? ε model also gives good prediction, especially when the reattachment point is concerned. The evaluation of the reattachment point and the pressure‐loss coefficient is numerically addressed in the paper using the cubic NLEV k ? ε model. The results show that the injection location can control the performance of the pipe‐expansion system. It is concluded that the introduction of flow injection can increase the energy loss in the pipe expansion. The near‐field turbulence structure is also considered in the present study and it is noticed that the turbulence level is strongly affected by the cross‐flow injection and the jet location. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of one‐ and two‐equation low‐Re turbulence models. Part I—Axisymmetric separating and swirling flows

This first segment of the two‐part paper systematically examines several turbulence models in the context of three flows, namely a simple flat‐plate turbulent boundary layer, an axisymmetric separating flow, and a swirling flow. The test cases are chosen on the basis of availability of high‐quality and detailed experimental data. The tested turbulence models are integrated to solid surfaces and consist of: Rodi's two‐layer k–ε model, Chien's low‐Reynolds number k–ε model, Wilcox's k–ω model, Menter's two‐equation shear‐stress‐transport model, and the one‐equation model of Spalart and Allmaras. The objective of the study is to establish the prediction accuracy of these turbulence models with respect to axisymmetric separating flows, and flows of high streamline curvature. At the same time, the study establishes the minimum spatial resolution requirements for each of these turbulence closures, and identifies the proper low‐Mach‐number preconditioning and artificial diffusion settings of a Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes algorithm for optimum rate of convergence and minimum adverse impact on prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Accuracy and stability of a set of free‐surface time‐domain boundary element models based on B‐splines

An analysis is given for the accuracy and stability of some perturbation‐based time‐domain boundary element models (BEMs) with B‐spline basis functions, solving hydrodynamic free‐surface problems, including forward speed effects. The spatial convergence rate is found as a function of the order of the B‐spline basis. It is shown that for all the models examined the mixed implicit–explicit Euler time integration scheme is correct to second order. Stability diagrams are found for models based on B‐splines of orders third through to sixth for two different time integration schemes. The stability analysis can be regarded as an extension of the analysis by Vada and Nakos [Vada T, Nakos DE. Time marching schemes for ship motion simulations. In Proceedings of the 8th International Workshop on Water Waves and Floating Bodies, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, 1993; 155–158] to include B‐splines of orders higher than three (piecewise quadratic polynomials) and to include finite water depth and a current at an oblique angle to the model grid. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Turbulence in a skewed three‐dimensional wall‐bounded shear flow: effect of mean vorticity on structure modification

Mean‐flow three‐dimensionalities affect both the turbulence level and the coherent flow structures in wall‐bounded shear flows. A tailor‐made flow configuration was designed to enable a thorough investigation of moderately and severely skewed channel flows. A unidirectional shear‐driven plane Couette flow was skewed by means of an imposed spanwise pressure gradient. Three different cases with 8°, 34°and 52°skewing were simulated numerically and the results compared with data from a purely two‐dimensional plane Couette flow. The resulting three‐dimensional flow field became statistically stationary and homogeneous in the streamwise and spanwise directions while the mean velocity vector V and the mean vorticity vector Ω remained parallel with the walls. Mean flow profiles were presented together with all components of the Reynolds stress tensor. The mean shear rate in the core region gradually increased with increasing skewing whereas the velocity fluctuations were enhanced in the spanwise direction and reduced in the streamwise direction. The Reynolds shear stress is known to be closely related to the coherent flow structures in the near‐wall region. The instantaneous and ensemble‐averaged flow structures were turned by the skewed mean flow. We demonstrated for the medium‐skewed case that the coherent structures should be examined in a coordinate system aligned with V to enable a sound interpretation of 3D effects. The conventional symmetry between Case 1 and Case 2 vortices was broken and Case 1 vortices turned out to be stronger than Case 2. This observation is in conflict with the common understanding on the basis of the spanwise (secondary) mean shear rate. A refined model was proposed to interpret the structure modifications in three‐dimensional wall‐flows. What matters is the orientation of the mean vorticity vector Ω relative to the vortex vorticity vector ω _v, that is, the sign of Ω · ω _v. In the present situation, Ω · ω _v > 0 for the Case 1 vortices causing a strengthening relative to the Case 2 vortices. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.