3D numerical analysis on mechanisms of flow and heat transfer in a square channel with right triangular wavy surfaces

Abstract

Numerical investigations on thermo-hydraulic performance and mechanisms of flow and heat transfer in a square channel heat exchanger inserted with right triangular wavy surfaces are examined. The influence of the flow attack angles (30°, 45° and 60°) is investigated for laminar flow (Re = 100–2000). The configurations of the right triangular wavy surfaces are varied as inclined and V-shaped wavy surfaces (the pointing of V-tip with downstream and upstream called “V-downstream” and “V-upstream”, respectively). The insertions of the wavy surfaces in the channel heat exchanger are divided into two types: middle and diagonal insertions. The computational results reveal that the maximum thermal enhancement factor, TEF, is around 2.31 for the 30° V-downstream wavy surface with diagonal insertion at Re = 2000.