Heat transfer enhancement in a duct with two right angled bends

Abstract EN

A numerical study was carried out to predict the behavior of complex flow and forced convection heat transfer characteristics in a duct with two right– angled bends for both laminar and turbulent flows.

The finite differences method was employed to solve the Navier – Stokes and energy equations.

The thermal boundary conditions at the duct walls are adopted by using an isothermal for laminar flow and transient heat conducted with convection for turbulent flow.

The equations of vorticity and energy have been solved by using the explicit method.

The computations were performed for step height ratios (H / W = 2, 3, and 4), inlet air velocities (0.12-1.0 m / s) for Reynolds number (568-33334), ambient air temperature of (30-35 ˚C), duct wall thickness of (0.002-0.004 m) and different duct metal on the behavior of the flow and heat transfer.

Generally, the effect of the step ratio on the bulk temperature and local heat transfer is minor for H / W equal or greater than 3.

Also, it is found that both flow and heat transfer patterns change drastically from laminar to turbulent flows.

Moreover, in the turbulent flow regime, the maximum heat transfer rates occur at increasing of the inlet air velocity and the ambient air temperature, also at decrease in the duct width and wall thickness with aluminum duct.

Also, it was found that the bulk temperature tends to reach a higher value at the duct bends (separation and recirculation regions) and lower values for the local Nusselt number.

The numerical results of local Nusselt number along the duct wall for laminar flow were compared with published experiment results.

The comparison indicates reasonable agreement.