The effects of vortex generator arrays on heat transfer and flow field

Abstract

The effect of arrays of single-body, delta shaped vortex generators on heat transfer and flow field has been investigated numerically using RANS (Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes) methods. The Reynolds number based on the hydraulic diameter of the channel in which the vortex generators are positioned is fixed at 300,000. For the closure of the equation system of the flow field a full differential Reynolds stress model has been used to capture the anisotropic effects of the induced vortex structures. To gain realistic results for the heat transfer the common approach for the closure of the Reynolds-averaged energy equation using a turbulent Prandtl number has been abandoned for explicit algebraic models which deliver more realistic results for complex flows. Simultaneously to the calculations measurements have been performed on some of the geometries to validate the numerical results.