Numerical simulations of flow and heat transfer past a circular cylinder with a periodic array of fins

Abstract

Three-dimensional, time-dependent solutions of flow and heat transfer past a circular cylinder with a periodic array of circular fins is obtained using an accurate and efficient spectral multidomain methodology. A Fourier expansion with a corresponding uniform grid is used along the circumferential direction. A spectral multidomain method with Chebyshev collocation is used along the r–z plane to handle the periodic array of circular fins attached to the surface of the cylinder. At a Reynolds number of 300 based on the cylinder diameter, results for the finned cylinder are compared with those of a smooth cylinder in order to see the effects of the presence of the fin array on flow and heat transfer. Detailed structure of fluid flow and temperature fields are obtained as a function of time to investigate how the fin array changes heat transfer mechanism related to the vortical structure in the wake region.