Flow impingement onto a flat plate with limited heated area in relation to laser gas assisted processing

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the influence of conical and annular nozzle geometric configurations on the flow structure and heat transfer characteristics near the stagnation point of a flat plate with limited heated area.Design/methodology/approachThe conical and annular conical nozzles were designed such that the exit area of both nozzles is the same and the mass flow rate passing through the nozzles is kept constant for both nozzles. The governing equations of flow and heat transfer are modeled numerically using a control volume approach. The grid independent solutions are secured and the predictions of flow and heat transfer characteristics are compared with the simple pipe flow with the same area and mass flow rate. The Reynolds stress turbulence model is employed to account for the turbulence. A flat plate with a limited heated area is accommodated to resemble the laser heating situations and air is used as assisting gas.FindingsIt is found that nozzle exiting velocity profiles differ considerably with changing the nozzle cone angle. Increasing nozzle cone angle enhances the radial flow and extends the stagnation zone away from the plate surface. The impinging jet with a fully developed velocity profile results in enhanced radial acceleration of the flow. Moreover, the flow structure changes considerably for annular conical and conical nozzles. The nozzle exiting velocity profile results in improved heat transfer coefficient at the flat plate surface. However, the achievement of fully developed pipe flow like velocity profile emanating from a nozzle is almost impossible for practical laser applications. Therefore, use of annular conical nozzles facilitates the high cooling rates from the surface during laser heating processResearch limitations/implicationsThe results are limited with theoretical predictions due to the difficulties arising in experimental studies.Practical implicationsThe results can be used in laser machining applications to improve the end product quality. It also enables selection of the appropriate nozzle geometry for a particular machining application.Originality/valueThis paper provides information on the flow and heat transfer characteristics associated with the nozzle geometric configurations and offers practical help for the researchers and scientists working in the laser machining area.