Heat transfer in a radially rotating square duct fitted with in-line transverse ribs

Abstract

This paper describes an experimental study of heat transfer in a radially rotating square duct with two opposite walls fitted by transverse ribs. The manner in which rotation modifies the forced heat convection is considered for the case where the duct rotates about an axis perpendicular to the duct's axis of symmetry and the flow within is radially outward with particular reference to the design of a gas turbine rotor blade. A selection of experimental results illustrates the individual and interactive effects of Coriolis and centripetal buoyancy forces on heat transfer along the centerline of each rotating rib-roughened surface. A number of experimental-based observations are revealed those confirm the manner for which the Coriolis force and centripetal buoyancy interactively modify the heat transfer even if the rib associating flow phenomena persist when the through flow transverses the ribs. An empirical correlation based on theoretical consideration and experimental data, which is physically consistent, has been developed to permit the evaluation of interactive effects of rib-flows, convective inertial force, Coriolis force and centripetal buoyancy on heat transfer.