Calculation of Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer in Channels With Streamwise-Periodic Flow

Abstract

A computational method for the calculation of the flow and heat transfer in a channel, with elements of various heights inducing a streamwise-periodic flow, is presented and evaluated. The time-averaged conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy were solved together using a finite-control-volume method. Reynolds stresses were obtained using a two-equation model, which solves the time-averaged equations of the turbulence kinetic energy and its dissipation rate. The calculated flow field is shown to be in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. The results indicate that the local and overall heat loss parameters increase with increasing Reynolds and Prandtl numbers and element height and with decreasing spacing.