Numerical simulation of turbulent flow and particle deposition in heat transfer channels with concave dimples

Abstract

The efficiency of heat transfer will be significantly reduced if airborne particles deposit in the heat transfer channel. Better understandings on particle deposition characteristics in heat exchanger channel are crucial for the energy efficiency improvement. In this study, the particle deposition in a three-dimensional dimpled rough channel was simulated using the Reynolds stress model (RSM) and discrete particle model (DPM). For the turbulent diffusion of particles, the random walk model (DRW) was employed, and for the particle–wall contact, user-defined functions(UDF) are developed in this study to achieve motions such as bouncing and deposition of particles. Grid independence testing and numerical verification were followed by an analysis and study of the flow structures, secondary flow, temperature distribution, and particle deposition distribution in the dimpled rough channel. On the turbulent structure and particle deposition characteristics, the impacts of several significant parameters, including particle size, airflow velocity, the ratio of dimple depth to inner diameter (h/d), and the ratio of inner diameter of dimple to distance between dimples (d/s), were examined. The findings demonstrate that the primary mechanisms influencing the deposition characteristics of particles in dimpled channels are gravity deposition, thermophoresis force distribution, turbulence structure, secondary flow, and particle inertia, and the effects of these mechanisms change significantly with particle size. For small particles (dp ≤ 10 μm), the presence of dimples will encourage deposition; however, for large particles (dp > 10 μm), the presence of dimples will only have a little impact on the distribution of where the particles are deposited.