Convective heat transfer and particle motion in an obstructed duct with two side by side obstacles by means of DPM model

Abstract

In this research, a two-way coupling of discrete phase model is developed in order to track the discrete nature of aluminum oxide particles in an obstructed duct with two side-by-side obstacles. Finite volume method and trajectory analysis are simultaneously utilized to solve the equations for liquid and solid phases, respectively. The interactions between two phases are fully taken into account in the simulation by considering the Brownian, drag, gravity, and thermophoresis forces. The effects of space ratios between two obstacles and particle diameters on different parameters containing concentration and deposition of particles and Nusselt number are studied for the constant values of Reynolds number (Re = 100) and volume fractions of nanoparticles (Φ = 0.01). The obtained results indicate that the particles with smaller diameter (dp = 30 nm) are not affected by the flow streamline and they diffuse through the streamlines. Moreover, the particle deposition enhances as the value of space ratio increases. A comparison between the experimental and numerical results is also provided with the existing literature as a limiting case of the reported problem and found in good agreement.