LBM simulation of forced convective channel flow containing multiple obstacles: Effects of obstacles height and position

Abstract

AbstractWe examine the effects of the obstacles, height, and position on the forced convective flow in a channel having three obstacles on the lower wall of the channel. All the walls of the channel and obstacles are retained at a constant temperature while the fluid with temperature more than the walls are entered into the channel. The flow governing equations, vorticity equation, and energy equation are solved numerically by using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) together with the finite difference successive over relaxation method (SOR). The effects of obstacles height, h, and distance, d, between the obstacles on the streamlines and isotherms are presented. To investigate the heat transfer rate for changing the height and position of the obstacles, local Nusselt number distribution and the mean Nusselt number distribution are also presented. It is observed that vortices, produced backward to each obstacle, increase axially with increasing the height of each obstacle. Also vortices, produced between obstacles, change its shape with decreasing the distance between obstacles. It is asserted that heat transfer rate can be increased by extending only the height of first obstacle.