Numerical simulation on turbulent flow by forced convection around plantes baffles in solar collection

Abstract EN

In this paper, structure of the turbulent flow and heat transfer in tow-dimensional horizontal channel are investigated and analysed numerically.

The air circulates inside a channel of rectangular section, containing two rectangular baffle plates.

This is an important problem in the scope of solar collectors where the characterization of the flow, pressure distribution, as well as the existence and the extension of possible recirculation need to be identified.

The differential equations that describe the flow were integrated by the Finite Volumes Method, in two dimensions, employing the TEAM code (Turbulent Elliptic Algorithm Manchester) with the k-e model to describe the turbulence.

The mesh is structured, with rectangular volumes.

Several boundary conditions were explored, being the more realistic results obtained by prescribing the inlet velocity field and atmospheric pressure at the exit.

The obtained results are compared with those reported in the literature.

The largest variations in the pressure and velocity fields occur in the regions near to the deflectors, as expected.