Analysis of heat and fluid flow between parallel plates by inserting triangular cross-section rods in the cross-stream plane

Abstract

In the present research, heat and fluid flow between the parallel plates has been investigated in the presence of the forward triangular cross-section rods. The rods are located at different non-dimensional axial distances such as S/Lh = 1/3, 1/4, and 1/5. In addition, the rods are distributed at two rows having vertical non-dimensional gap spaces of G/H = 0, 0.1, and 0.2. Computations have been performed numerically by means of the finite volume approach at various Reynolds numbers in the range from 400 to 1000 based on the channel mean velocity and its hydraulic diameter. Several quantitative and qualitative results are presented in the present study. It is found that all parameters under consideration such as S/Lh, G/H, and Re have considerable effects on the flow behavior and heat transfer rate of the advanced channel. In other words, decreasing S/Lh (or increasing the number of rods) as well as increasing the Reynolds number upgrades the channel heat transfer performance, generally. However, the maximum heat transfer enhancements occur in the case of G/H = 0.1 at each S/Lh and Re. The maximum heat transfer enhancement of the advanced channel with respect to the conventional parallel plate is obtained with 64.8% under Re = 1000, G/H = 0.1, and S/Lh = 1/5. Moreover, values of the pressure drop penalty and goodness factor have been presented accordingly for all cases under consideration.