Effect of obstacle positions for turbulent forced convection heat transfer and fluid flow over a double forward facing step

Abstract

A numerical study has been performed to analyze turbulent fluid flow behaviour along with forced convective heat transfer for a rectangular channel having double forward facing step with cylindrical obstacles placed near the steps. The flow equations as well as standard k−ε model used for turbulence is solved by a commercial code FLUENT. The positions of the obstacles are varied in vertical direction. The effect of different position ratios of the obstacles and Reynolds number, on the heat transfer and hydrodynamic behaviour of the flow, has been investigated. Results reveal that, when both the obstacles are positioned vertically with same position ratio, the rate of heat transfer increases as obstacle position ratio increases. Optimum vertical positions of the obstacles has also been individually obtained from the results to get the maximum heat transfer co-efficient.