Numerical study on turbulent flow forced-convection heat transfer for air in a channel with waved fins

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study on flow structure and convective heat transfer in a plane channel with waved fins mounted alternatively on top and bottom of the walls in a rectangular channel. In this investigation or different bar sizes in the Reynolds number range (5000, 10000, 15000 and 20000) corresponding to steady turbu-lent flow. The governing equations (continuity, momen-tum, energy and the turbulence) are solved over the entire domain, using the corresponding properties for the solid and fluid regions. The control volume approach is em-ployed in order to discredit the governing equations for their numerical solution. The k-? model has been applied to the turbulent flow field. The SIMPLE algorithm was used for the convective terms in the solution equations. A computer code was developed to study the dynamic and thermal comportment for four values of Reynolds number and for different geometric positions of the fins. The axial velocity profiles, the structures represented by the convec-tive Nusselt number, the coefficients of friction and pres-sure losses were obtained for various selected sections, namely, upstream, downstream and between the two waved fins.