Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Over a Three-Dimensional Spherical Object in a Pipe

Abstract

An incompressible viscous fluid flow with heat transfer over a spherical object inside a pipe is considered. The flow is made three-dimensional by an eccentric positioning of the sphere inside the pipe. The governing equations are solved by a numerical method which uses a finite volume formulation in a generalized body fitted coordinate system. An overset (Chimera) grid scheme is used to resolve the two geometries of the pipe and sphere. The results are compared to those of an external flow over a sphere, and the code is validated using such results in the intermediate Reynolds number range. The blockage effects are analyzed through evaluation of lift, drag, and heat transfer rate over the sphere. Also the change in the shear stress pattern is examined through evaluation of the local friction factor on a pipe wall and sphere surface.