Influences of the Non-Uniform Pin-Fin Array on Heat Transfer Distribution in a Rotating Rectangular Channel

Abstract

The liquid crystal thermography was used to investigate the heat transfer of non-uniform pin-fin arrays in a rotating rectangular channel (AR = 4:1) at a channel orientation of 135°. The pin-fin array consisted of four and three pins in a staggered arrangement. The different sized pins were inserted at the rows exhibiting four pins, which produced a non-uniform distribution of the pin-fin array. The experiments were operated at Reynolds numbers of 10,000 and 20,000 for both stationary and rotating conditions. The rotation number varied from 0 to 0.33 and the buoyancy parameter ranged from 0 to 0.27. Results indicated that various heat transfer contours were observed as a result of flow separation and vortices caused by non-uniform pins. Compared to the stationary case, rotation increased heat transfer on both trailing and leading surfaces. The pin-fin array consisted of 6 and 9 mm pins produced the highest heat transfer and frictional losses under rotation condition.