Prediction of turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer in a rotating periodical two‐pass square duct

Abstract

Turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed numerically for fluids flowing through a rotating periodical two‐pass square channel. The smooth walls of this two‐pass channel are subject to a constant heat flux. A two‐equation k‐ε turbulence model with modified terms for Coriolis and rotational buoyancy is employed to resolve this elliptic problem. The duct through‐flow rate and rotating speed are fixed constantly; while the wall heat flux into the fluid is varied to examine the rotating buoyancy effect on the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics. It is disclosed that the changes in local heat transfer due to the rotational buoyancy in the radially outward flow are more significant than those in the radially inward flow. However, the channel averaged heat transfer is altered slightly due to the rotational buoyancy in the both ducts. Whenever the buoyancy effects are sufficiently strong, the flow reversal appears over the leading face of the radially outward‐flow channel, and the radial distance for initiation of flow separation decreases with increasing the buoyancy parameter. A comparison of the present numerical results with the available experimental data by taking buoyancy into consideration is also presented.