Flow field investigation of rib-roughened serpentine channel

Abstract

This paper presents numerical flow field and heat transfer analysis of a channel consisting of upstream and downstream channels and a 180° bend. Turbulators (rib) with a square cross-section are placed in the straight part of the channels in order to enhance the heat transfer while flow enters to the model at fully developed conditions at Reynolds numbers of 20000. A constant heat flux boundary condition is provided from the bottom wall of the model. Numerical simulations are performed by a commercial solver using realizable k-ε turbulence model with enhanced wall treatment. The flow field development and evaluation of pressure drop accounted by each rib are analyzed along the channel. The effects of ribs to the flow field are characterized by wall shear distribution. The effect of u-bend on the downstream flow field is investigated.