Local convective heat transfer for laminar and turbulent flow in a rotor-stator system

Abstract The aim of this work is to show a better comprehension of the flow structure and thermal transfer in a rotor-stator system with a central opening in the stator and without an airflow imposed. The experimental technique uses infrared thermography to measure the surface temperatures of the rotor and the numerical solution of the steady-state heat equation to determine the local heat transfer coefficients. Analysis of the flow structure between the rotor and the stator is conducted by PIV. Tests are carried out for rotational Reynolds numbers ranging from 5.87×10⁴ to 1.4×10⁶ and for gap ratios ranging from 0.01 to 0.17. Analysis of the experimental results has determined the influence of the rotational Reynolds number, the gap ratio and systems geometry on the flow structure, and the convective exchanges in the gap between the rotor and the stator. Some correlations expressing the local Nusselt number as a function of the rotational Reynolds number and the gap ratio are proposed.     

Experimental characterization of convective heat transfer with MWCNT based nanofluids under laminar flow conditions

This study describes an investigation on the convective heat transfer performance of aqueous suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The results suggested an increase on heat transfer coefficient of 47 % for 0.5 % volume fraction. Moreover, the enhancement observed during thermal conductivity assessment, cannot fully explain the heat transfer intensification. This could be associated to the random movements among the particles through a fluid, caused by the impact of the base fluid molecules.     

Seed bubbles stabilize flow and heat transfer in parallel microchannels

Seed bubbles are generated on microheaters located at the microchannel upstream and driven by a pulse voltage signal, to improve flow and heat transfer performance in microchannels. The present study investigates how seed bubbles stabilize flow and heat transfer in micro-boiling systems. For the forced convection flow, when heat flux at the wall surface is continuously increased, flow instability is self-sustained in microchannels with large oscillation amplitudes and long periods. Introduction of seed bubbles in time sequence improves flow and heat transfer performance significantly. Low frequency (∼10 Hz) seed bubbles not only decrease oscillation amplitudes of pressure drops, fluid inlet and outlet temperatures and heating surface temperatures, but also shorten oscillation cycle periods. High frequency (∼100 Hz or high) seed bubbles completely suppress the flow instability and the heat transfer system displays stable parameters of pressure drops, fluid inlet and outlet temperatures and heating surface temperatures. Flow visualizations show that a quasi-stable boundary interface from spheric bubble to elongated bubble is maintained in a very narrow distance range at any time. The seed bubble technique almost does not increase the pressure drop across microsystems, which is thoroughly different from those reported in the literature. The higher the seed bubble frequency, the more decreased heating surface temperatures are. A saturation seed bubble frequency of 1000–2000 Hz can be reached, at which heat transfer enhancement attains the maximum degree, inferring a complete thermal equilibrium of vapor and liquid phases in microchannels. Benefits of the seed bubble technique are the stabilization of flow and heat transfer, decreasing heating surface temperatures and improving temperature uniformity of the heating surface.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer in microchannels with rectangular cross section

Forced convective heat transfer coefficients and friction factors for flow of water in microchannels with a rectangular cross section were measured. An integrated microsystem consisting of five microchannels on one side and a localized heater and seven polysilicon temperature sensors along the selected channels on the other side was fabricated using a double-polished-prime silicon wafer. For the microchannels tested, the friction factor constant obtained are values between 53.7 and 60.4, which are close to the theoretical value from a correlation for macroscopic dimension, 56.9 for D _h  = 100 μm. The heat transfer coefficients obtained by measuring the wall temperature along the micro channels were linearly dependent on the wall temperature, in turn, the heat transfer mechanism is strongly dependent on the fluid properties such as viscosity. The measured Nusselt number in the laminar flow regime tested could be correlated by which is quite different from the constant value obtained in macrochannels.     

Anomalous heat transfer and drag in laminar flow of viscoelastic fluids

A boundary-layer approach is used to derive an expression for the heat transfer coefficient when a viscoelastic fluid flows past a cylinder. The heat-transfer coefficient becomes independent of velocity at large values of the latter, thus explaining the experimental results of James and Acosta. The agreement with the observations of these authors is, however, only qualitative, since their experiments were carried out at relatively low Reynolds numbers. By changing the exponent of the Reynolds number from the boundary-layer approximation value to one which is valid in the range used by James and Acosta, a correlation is suggested which is in satisfactory agreement with their data. Similar considerations are used to explain the additional experimental observation of James and Acosta, i.e. that the drag coefficient for the flow past a cylinder also becomes independent of velocity at large values of the latter quantity.     

Turbulent flow and convective heat transfer in a wavy wall channel

This paper reports the numerical modeling of turbulent flow and convective heat transfer over a wavy wall using a two equations eddy viscosity turbulence model. The wall boundary conditions were applied by using a new zonal modeling strategy based on DNS data and combining the standard k– turbulence model in the outer core flow with a one equation model to resolve the near-wall region.It was found that the two-layer model is successful in capturing most of the important physical features of a turbulent flow over a wavy wall with reasonable amount of memory storage and computer time. The predicted results show the shortcomings of the standard law of the wall for predicting such type of flows and consequently suggest that direct integrations to the wall must be used instead. Moreover, Comparison of the predicted results of a wavy wall with that of a straight channel, indicates that the averaged Nusselt number increases until a critical value is reached where the amplitude wave is increased. However, this heat transfer enhancement is accompanied by an increase in the pressure drop.     

Buoyancy-induced flow and convective heat transfer in an inclined arc-shape enclosure

Numerical and experimental investigations have been conducted to study the flow and heat transfer characteristics for the buoyancy-induced flow inside an inclined arc-shape enclosure. Mathematical model in form of a stream function-vorticity formulation representing the laws of conservation in mass, momentum, and energy is expressed in a curvilinear coordinate frame and solved by a finite-volume discretization method. Heat transfer and flow pattern are predicted at various Grashof numbers and inclination angles. Meanwhile, an experimental system is developed and a flow-visualization technique using smoke is employed to observe the flow pattern. Results show that only when the Grashof number is higher than 10⁵, the increase in natural convection heat transfer becomes appreciable. Both the strength and the pattern of the buoyancy-induced vortex are found to be greatly dependent on the inclination angle. The range of the Grashof number considered in this study is up to 10⁷ and the inclination angle is varied from 0 to π.     

An updated three-zone heat transfer model for slug flow boiling in microchannels

This work proposes a novel physics-based model for the fluid mechanics and heat transfer associated with slug flow boiling in horizontal circular microchannels to update the widely used three-zone model of Thome et al. (2004). The heat transfer model has a convective boiling nature and predicts the time-dependent variation of the local heat transfer coefficient during the cyclic passage of a liquid slug, an evaporating elongated bubble and a vapor plug. The capillary flow theory, extended to incorporate evaporation effects, is applied to estimate the bubble velocity along the channel. A liquid film thickness prediction method also considering bubble proximity effects, which may limit the radial extension of the film, is included. The minimum liquid film thickness at dryout is set to the channel wall roughness. Theoretical heat transfer models accounting for the thermal inertia of the liquid film and for the recirculating flow within the liquid slug are utilized. The heat transfer model is compared to experimental data taken from three independent studies. The 833 slug flow boiling data points cover the fluids R134a, R245fa and R236fa, and channel diameters below 1 mm. The proposed evaporation model predicts more than 80% of the database to within ±30%. It demonstrates a stronger contribution to heat transfer by the liquid slugs and correspondingly less by the thin film evaporation process compared to the original three-zone model. This model represents a new step towards a complete physics-based modelling of the bubble dynamics and heat transfer within microchannels under evaporating flow conditions.     

Convective heat transfer characteristics of laminar pulsating pipe air flow

 Heat transfer characteristics to laminar pulsating pipe flow under different conditions of Reynolds number and pulsation frequency were experimentally investigated. The tube wall of uniform heat flux condition was considered. Reynolds number was varied from 780 to 1987 while the frequency of pulsation ranged from 1 to 29.5 Hz. The results showed that the relative mean Nusselt number is strongly affected by pulsation frequency while it is slightly affected by Reynolds number. The results showed enhancements in the relative mean Nusselt number. In the frequency range of 1–4 Hz, an enhancement up to 30% (at Reynolds number of 1366 and pulsation frequency of 1.4 Hz) was obtained. In the frequency range of 17–25 Hz, an enhancement up to 9% (at Reynolds number of 1366 and pulsation frequency of 17.5 Hz) was indicated. The rate of enhancement of the relative mean Nusselt number decreased as pulsation frequency increased or as Reynolds number increased. A reduction in relative mean Nusselt number occurred outside these ranges of pulsation frequencies. A reduction in relative mean Nusselt number up to 40% for pulsation frequency range of 4.1–17 Hz and a reduction up to 20% for pulsation frequency range of 25–29.5 Hz for Reynolds numbers range of 780–1987 were considered. This reduction is directly proportional to the pulsation frequency. Empirical dimensionless equations have been developed for the relative mean Nusselt number that related to Reynolds number (750 < Re < 2000) and the dimensionless frequency (3<Ω<18) with about 10% rms. Received on 16 May 2000 / Published online: 29 November 2001     

Effects of rotational acceleration on flow and heat transfer in straight and swirl microchannels

Electronic devices in aviation sustain the acceleration with variations in direction and magnitude. One problem is to reduce the adverse effect of acceleration on the performance of the heat exchanger. The microchannel is an innovational heat sink used for large heat dissipation. We designed two types of microchannel to study their flow and heat transfer characteristics under high-G acceleration. A centrifuge provided up to 15?g acceleration in a microchannel with FC-72 as the working fluid. The results show complicated flow and heat transfer characteristics at different acceleration directions, flow rates ranging from 10 to 15?L/h and a heat flux ranging from 35 to 80?W/cm². The acceleration effects are reduced in the swirl microchannel compared with the traditional straight microchannels, and an increasing flow rate also resists acceleration. We perform an analysis of resistance against acceleration based on the forces exerted on each fluid particle.     

Radiative and convective heat transfer in hypersonic flow around a blunt body

The heat transfer in the vicinity of the critical point is investigated for hypersonic air flow around a blunt body. The gas-dynamical conservation equations are solved simultaneously with the radiative transport equation in integral form. Allowance is made for the viscosity, heat conduction, and the actual radiation parameters of air, including spectral line emission. Profiles are obtained for the thermodynamic variables along the critical line. The dependence of the radiative and convective components of the aerodynamic heating on the velocity and pressure ahead of the shock front as well as the radius of curvature of the blunt nose section is discussed. Approximate relations having the form of similarity laws are derived for the heat fluxes in the vicinity of the critical point. The limits of applicability of the thermodynamic equilibrium approximation in the shock-compressed layer are discussed. The influence of absorption of radiation from the compressed layer by the cold freestream on the aerodynamic heating is considered. Attention is given in this case to the dependence of the spectral absorption coefficient for the cold air on the intensity of the radiation incident upon it.Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 112–123, September–October, 1972.     

Melting heat transfer in steady laminar flow over a moving surface

The steady laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer from a warm, laminar liquid flow to a melting surface moving parallel to a constant free stream is studied in this paper. The continuity, momentum and energy equations, which are coupled nonlinear partial differential equations are reduced to a set of two nonlinear ordinary differential equations, before being solved numerically using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method. Results for the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, velocity profiles as well as temperature profiles are presented for different values of the governing parameters. Effects of the melting parameter, moving parameter and Prandtl number on the flow and heat transfer characteristics are thoroughly examined. It is found that the problem admits dual solutions.     

A note on heat transfer in laminar flow through a gap

Summary The problem of heat transfer in laminar flow through a gap between two semi-infinite parallel plates at constant temperature was recently studied by Agrawal¹⁾. He solved this problem with the use of infinite Fourier sine series and derived an expression for the local temperature profile and the local Nusselt number as a function of the distance along the gap. A detailed solution for Péclèt number Pe=1 is given. Far enough from the entrance of the gap the local temperature profile of the fluid is almost independent of it's initial temperature. In this paper this limit temperature profile is expressed with the confluent hypergeometric function and the corresponding Nusselt number as a function of Pe is calculated.     

MHD mixed convective heat transfer flow about an inclined plate

Mixed convection heat transfer about a semi-infinite inclined plate in the presence of magneto and thermal radiation effects is studied. The fluid is assumed to be incompressible and dense. The nonlinear coupled parabolic partial differential equations governing the flow are transformed into the non-similar boundary layer equations, which are then solved numerically using the Keller box method. The effects of the mixed convection parameter R _i, the angle of inclination α, the magnetic parameter M and the radiation–conduction parameter R _d on the velocity and temperature profiles as well as on the local skin friction and local heat transfer parameters. For some specific values of the governing parameters, the results are compared with those available in the literature and a fairly good agreement is obtained.     

Three-dimensional laminar flow and heat transfer in the entrance region of trapezoidal ducts

The laminar convective flow and heat transfer in a duct with a trapezoidal cross-sectional area are studied numerically. The governing equations are solved numerically by a finite volume formulation in complex three-dimensional geometries using co-located variables and Cartesian velocity components. Details of the numerical method are presented. The accuracy of the method was also established by comparing the calculated results with the analytical and numerical results available in the open literature. The Nusselt numbers are obtained for the boundary condition of a uniform wall temperature whereas the friction factors are calculated for no-slip conditions at the walls. The asymptotic values of the Nusselt numbers, friction factors. incremental pressure drops, axial velocity and momentum rate and kinetic energy correction factors approach the available fully developed values. Various geometrical dimensions of the cross-section are considered.