Research on effects of obstacles on heat transfer and fluid flow in backward facing step flow

Abstract

An extensive research has been done on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in micro-channel using liquid water. A baffle has been introduced downstream the sudden expansion zone to enhance the rate of heat transfer. The height and the location of the baffle were varied for the Reynolds number range 50≤ Re ≤ 200, which is a laminar flow. Two-dimensional flow domain with non-staggered grid arrangement was taken and the two-dimensional mass, momentum and energy equation was solved using finite volume method in ANSYS 16.2. This study reports that the presence of baffle in the micro-channel increased the rate of heat transfer. The skin friction coefficient has been calculated and the parameters influencing the heat transfer augmentation have been optimized.