Computational investigation of the velocity and temperature fields in corrugated heat exchanger channels using RANS based turbulence models with experimental validation

Abstract

The characteristics of convective heat transfer and friction factor for periodic corrugated channels are investigated numerically. In the numerical study, the finite volume method (FVM) is used. Three different Reynolds averaged numerical simulation (RANS) based turbulent models, namely the k-omega, the shear stress transport (SST) model and the transition SST model are employed and compared with each other. Experimental results obtained from a previous study are used for the assessment of the numerical results. Investigations are performed for air flowing through corrugated channels with an inclination angle of 30 degrees. The Reynolds number is varied within the range 2,000 to 11,000, while keeping the Prandtl number constant at 0.70. Variations of the Nusselt number, Colburn factor, friction factor and goodness factor with the Reynolds number are studied. Effects of the corrugation geometry and channel height are discussed. The overall performances of the considered turbulence model are observed to be quite similar. The SST model is observed to show a slightly better overall performance.