Vortex distribution and mixed convection of liquid flow across micro-cylinders in a rectangular channel

Abstract

The impacts of heat flux (q = 10, 15, 20 W/cm2), cylinder diameter (D = 300, 600, 3000 μm), aspect ratio AR (H/D = 1, 2, 4) and block ratio BR (W/D = 2, 4, 16) on vortex distribution and mixed convection of liquid flow across single micro-cylinder and micro-cylinder-groups (3 × 3 cylinders) were numerically investigated. The separation angles, recirculation lengths (Lv) and Nusselt numbers were calculated with Reynolds number ranging from 10 to 60. For the single micro-cylinder, the separation angle and the value of Lv/D both became large with the increase of heat flux, and the profiles of Lv/D versus z/H were asymmetrical, which is different from the cylinders with dimensions of millimeter-level. The discrepancies of Lv/D on the same plane of micro-cylinders with different AR in the region near end-walls were larger than those near the symmetry wall. For the 3 × 3 micro-cylinder-groups, the value of Lv/D was related to the location along the axial direction, while the separation angle became small along the flowing direction. The mixed heat transfer in rectangular channel with micro-cylinders could be enhanced by changing the dimensions of the cylinders and the channel.