Periodically fully developed laminar flow and heat transfer in a 2-D horizontal channel with staggered fins

Abstract

The 2-D periodically fully developed laminar forced convection fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a horizontal channel with staggered fins are investigated numerically under constant wall heat flux boundary condition. Study is performed using ANSYS Fluent 6.3.26 which uses finite volume method. Air (Pr ≅ 0.7) and Freon-12 (Pr ≅ 3.5) are used as working fluids. Effects of Reynolds number, Prandtl number, fin height, and distances between two fins on heat transfer and friction factor are examined. Results are given in the form of non-dimensional average Nusselt number and average Darcy friction factor as a function of Reynolds number for different fin distances and Prandtl numbers. The velocity and temperature profiles are also obtained. It is seen that as the fin distance increases, behavior approaches the finless channel, as expected. Also, thermal enhancement factors are given graphically for working fluids. It is seen that heat transfer dominates the friction as both the distance between two fins and Prandtl number increase. It is also seen that fins having blockage ratio of 0.10 in 2-D periodically fully developed laminar flow is not advantageous in comparison to smooth channel without fins.