Turbulent Flow Through a Staggered Tube Bank

Abstract

Reynolds stress model simulations of turbulent flow through a staggered tube bank were carried out using the computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT. Both wall functions and near-wall treatment approaches were used. In addition, simulations using a near-wall turbulence model, the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model, were also carried out for comparison. Simulations were performed at a Reynolds number of 10 6 with longitudinal pitch-to-diameter ratio of 1.414 and transverse pitch-to-diameter ratio of 2.0. The primary aim was to numerically investigate the crossflow in a tube bank at a very high Reynolds number using a two-dimensional model. Reynolds stress model with both standard wall function approach and nonequilibrium wall function approach predicted the position of boundary layer separation well. The heat transfer prediction was found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental data and the empirical correlation. Flow visualization provided a clear picture of the vortex shedding which can help us better understand the flow character. The existence of two Strouhal numbers was consistent with some experimental studies.