Heat Transfer in Rotating Multi-Pass Rectangular Smooth Channel With and Without a Turning Vane in Hub Region

Abstract

This paper experimentally investigates the effect of a turning vane on hub region heat transfer in a multi-pass rectangular smooth channel at high rotation numbers. The experimental data were taken in the second and the third passages (Aspect Ratio = 2:1) connected by an 180° U-bend. The flow was radial inward in the second passage and was radial outward after the 180° U-bend in the third passage. The Reynolds number ranged 10,000 to 40,000 while the rotation number ranged 0 to 0.42. The density ratio was a constant of 0.12. Results showed that rotation increases heat transfer on leading surface but decreases it on the trailing surface in the second passage. In the third passage, the effect of rotation is reversed. Without a turning vane, rotation reduces heat transfer substantially on all surfaces in the hub 180° turn region. After adding a half-circle-shaped turning vane, heat transfer coefficients do not change in the second passage (before turn) while they are quite different in the turn region and the third passage (after turn). Regional heat transfer coefficients are correlated with rotation numbers for multi-pass rectangular smooth channel with and without a turning vane.