Control of turbulent channel flow over a backward‐facing step by suction or injection

Abstract

AbstractExperiments have been performed for turbulent channel flow over a backward‐facing step. The backward‐facing step is controlled by equipping a slit at the bottom corner of the step. Low momentum fluids in the recirculation region are sucked or high momentum fluids are injected from the slit. The width of the slit is changed between 2, 3, and 5 mm, and the flow ratio is varied from 0.00 to 0.15. The wall static pressure and local heat transfer coefficient are measured behind the backward‐facing step. The wall shear stress is measured using a micro flow sensor. In addition, the velocity profiles and turbulent intensities are measured by a split hot film probe. It is found that the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics are controlled by the flow ratio. When the suction flow ratio is 0.06, the highest performance is obtained. Enhancement of the heat transfer is related to the increase of turbulence intensity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(8): 490–504, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20036