Mixed Convective Power-Law Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics Past a Semi-circular Cylinder Mounted with a Splitter Plate

Abstract

In this paper, a numerical investigation is performed to study the mixed convective flow and heat transfer characteristics for a power-law obeying fluid past a semi-circular cylinder mounted with a splitter plate. Computations are performed by employing commercially available package, ANSYS fluent. Numerical calculations are carried out at a fixed Reynolds number of Re = 100. Power-law fluid rheological parameter (n) is varied in the range 0.6 ≤ n ≤ 1.6, and thereby covering both shear thinning and shear thickening behaviour. The effect of buoyancy is brought about by varying the Richardson number (Ri) in the range −1.0 ≤ Ri ≤ 1.0. The aerodynamic forces acting on the cylinder during the mixed convection are captured in terms of drag (Cd) and lift (Cl) coefficients. The heat transfer characteristics are enumerated by computing both local and average Nusselt numbers. Flow visualisations during vortex shedding are shown in terms of isotherms, vorticity and streamlines contours. The results obtained from the present study may be useful in the design of modern generation food-processing industries, slurry, etc., to name a few.KeywordsMixed convectionPower-law fluidSplitter plateVortex sheddingRichardson number