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Integrated design of wavy-rib and inclined pin-fin channels for high-efficiency thermal management
Author(s)
Kaewchoothong, Natthaporn
Oo, Ye Min
Gonsrang, Sarawut
Cheputeh, Ni Asri
Date Issued
June 1, 2026
Type
Article
Abstract
A stationary numerical investigation was conducted to examine the thermo–hydraulic characteristics of a hybrid wavy rib–inclined pin-fin channel. The study aims to clarify the fundamental interaction mechanisms between rib-induced secondary flow and pin-fin orientation under non-rotating conditions, providing a baseline understanding relevant to internal cooling concepts. The governing parameters include Reynolds number ( Re = 10,000–50,000) and pin-fin inclination angle ( α = 45°–90°), while the channel aspect ratio is maintained at 1:1. The results indicate that heat transfer enhancement is controlled by the coupling between rib-generated periodic secondary vortices and inclination-dependent pin-induced vortex structures. The inclined pin-fins redistribute momentum in the streamwise and cross-stream directions, modifying vortex coherence, impingement location, and boundary-layer renewal. Among the tested configurations, the 75° inclination produced the most balanced vortex interaction, resulting in the highest area-averaged Nusselt number. Compared with the wavy-rib-only channel, the 75° case enhanced heat transfer by up to 10.53% and exceeded the performance of other orientations within the investigated range. Although the absolute Nusselt number increased with Reynolds number for all cases, the relative enhancement and thermal performance factor decreased at higher Reynolds numbers due to the increasing dominance of bulk inertial transport over geometry-induced mixing. The 75° configuration achieved the most favorable overall thermo–hydraulic performance, providing a compromise between sustained vortex-induced heat transfer and moderated pressure penalty.
Citation
Applied Thermal Engineering, 296, 2026