Penalty finite-element analysis of coupled fluid flow and heat transfer for in-line bundle of cylinders in cross flow

Abstract

The two-dimensional steady state Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation governing laminar incompressible flow are solved using a penalty finite-element model for the case of flow across an in-line bundle of cylinders. Two cases of in-line cylinder bundles, one five rows deep and the other an infinite bundle, are considered with pitch-diameter ratios of 1.25, 1.5 and 1.8 Reynolds numbers studied range from 100 to 600 and Prandtl number is taken as 0.7. Velocity field vectors, stream lines, vorticity, pressure and temperature contours, local and average Nusselt numbers, pressure and shear stress distribution around the cylinder walls and drag coefficients are presented. The results obtained agree well with available experimental and numerical data.