Heat transfer promotion in channel laminar flow employing a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to promote laminar heat transfer from the channel heated through a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across.Design/methodology/approachThe novel design of this study is performed through making the slits in the slab (C1–C3: with slits; C4–C6: without slits) and changing the vertical location of this slab (1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 channel height). The thermal fluid characteristics of all cases are analyzed for various Reynolds numbers (500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000) by the SIMPLE-C algorithm.FindingsThe results display that the ribbed slab effectively improves the heat transfer. The slits can modify the flow field in the vortexes around the inclined ribs and remove more heat from this zone to promote the heat transfer. As compared with C0 (without a slab), C2 (the slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across located vertically on the 3/4 channel height) raises the averaged Nusselt number up to 27.7% at Re = 2,000. As compared with C4 (without slits), C1 (with slits) gains the maximum increase in the averaged Nusselt number by 5.07% at Re = 1,000.Research limitations/implicationsThe constant thermo-physical properties of incompressible fluid and the steady flow are considered in this study.Practical implicationsThe numerical results will profit the design of heated passageway using a slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across to acquire better heat transfer promotion.Originality/valueThis slab with slits and inclined ribs protruding across can be applied to the heat transfer promotion and thus be viewed as a useful cooling mechanism in the thermal engineering.