Heat transfer enhancement in channels with roughened and elastic walls

Abstract

In this research, a combination of passive and active heat transfer enhancements are used synergistically to assist in the increase of absorbed heat from a channel by roughened and fluctuating walls. To this end, the upper wall is artificially roughened and a fluctuating segment is added to the lower wall. Flow regime is considered to be laminar and Reynolds number is 1000 at the entrance of the channel. Combinations of various roughness geometries and fluctuations are studied. It was found that due the increase of the fluid kinetic energy and its interaction with roughened surface and elastic segment, heat transfer rate is amplified. To investigate the overall efficiency of the system, Nusselt number and friction factor are calculated and a maximum value of 37.5% increase in average Nusselt number of the midsection where elastic wall is placed has been reached by flexible plate displacement. A maximum Nusselt number increase of 167% has been observed when the elastic plate reaches its peak value.