Numerical Analysis of Thermal and Aerodynamic Fields in a Channel with Cascaded Baffles

A computational fluid dynamic analysis of thermal and aerodynamic fields for an incompressible steady-state flow of a Newtonian fluid through a two-dimensional horizontal rectangular section channel with upper and lower wall-attached, vertical, staggered, transverse, cascaded rectangular-triangular (CRT), solid-type baffles is carried out in the present paper using the Commercial, Computational Fluid Dynamics, software FLUENT. The flow model is governed by the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the SST k-ω turbulence model and the energy equation. The finite volume method (FVM) with the SIMPLE-discretization algorithm is applied for the solution of the problem. The computations are carried out in the turbulent regime for different Reynolds numbers. In this study, thermo-aeraulic fields, dimensionless axial profiles of velocity, skin friction coefficients, local and average heat transfer coefficients, and thermal enhancement factor were investigated, at constant surface temperature condition along the heated upper wall of the channel, for all the geometry under investigation and chosen for various stations. The impact of the cascaded rectangular-triangular geometry of the baffle on the thermal and dynamic behavior of air is shown and this in comparing the data of this obstacle type with those of the simple flat rectangular-shaped baffle. This CFD analysis can be a real application in the field of heat exchangers, solar air collectors, and electronic equipments

Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer over Solid-Deflectors in Transverse, Staggered, Corrugated-Upstream and Corrugated-Downstream Patterns

Computational fluid dynamic simulations were conducted to analysis the influences of two different deflector orientations on turbulent forced-convection flow and skin friction loss of two-dimensional horizontal rectangular cross section channels with upper and lower wall-attached corrugated baffles. The governing flow equations, i.e., continuity, momentum, and energy, were numerically solved by the Finite Volume Method (FVM) using the Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equation (SIMPLE) discretization formulation. The help of the CFD code FLUENT was employed to solve the dynamic and thermal behavior of air in the whole domain under investigation. The flow rate in terms of Reynolds number is ranged from 5,000 to 32,000. The obtained results show that augmenting the Reynolds number makes the dynamic thermo energy field redirect in the vicinity of deflector corners, and forces an augmentation in the thermal transfer rate from baffles

Enhancement of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics in Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers by Using W-Baffle Vortex Generators

Improving the hydrodynamic characteristics of STHECs (Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger Channels) by using BVGs (Baffle-type Vortex Generators) is among the common passive methods due to their proved efficiency. In this computational investigation, the same method is used to enhance the hydrodynamic behavior of STHECs, by inserting W-shaped Baffle-type Vortex Generators. The numerical model represented by the computational FVM (Finite Volume Method) is used to simulate and analyzed the considered physical model. The fluid used is air, its thermal physical properties are constant, turbulent, incompressible, and its temperature is 300 K at the inlet section of the STHEC. The flow velocity ( Uin ) and atmospheric pressure ( Patm ) are considered as boundary conditions at the entrance (x = 0) and exit (x = L) of the channel, respectively. The results showed that the friction coefficients were related to the pressure, velocity, and Reynolds number values. High values of Re yielded an acceleration of the fluid, resulting thus in increased pressure on the solid walls and augmented friction values

The Solar Air Channels: Comparative Analysis, Introduction of Arc-shaped Fins to Improve the Thermal Transfer

The problem under investigation contains a computational simulation of a specific heat exchanger with complex geometry fins. The problem solved is potentially interesting for researchers and engineers working on solar collectors and aerospace industry. It is known that heat transfer enhancement can be achieved by creating longitudinal vortices in the flow. These vortices can be generated by arc-shaped fins, and a computational analysis of such solar air channels is not a simple task. Therefore, we used a present-day commercial CFD code to solve the problem. The mathematical problem including the main equations and their explanation, as well as the numerical procedure was presented. The impact of arc-fins’ spacings on streamlines and temperature distributions was completely investigated, as well as the heat transfer rate, pressure drop and thermal enhancement factor. The Nusselt number (Nu) and friction loss (f) values of the solar air channel at AR = 1.321 (aspect ratio of channel width-to-height) and S = Pi/2 are found to be around 11.963% and 26.006%; 21.645% and 40.789%; 26.196% and 50.314%; and 30.322% and 58.355% higher than that with S = 3Pi/4, Pi, 5Pi/4 and 3Pi/2, respectively. Importantly, the arc-fins with Re = 12,000 at S = Pi/2 showed higher thermal enhancement performance than the one at S = 3Pi/4, Pi, 5Pi/4 and 3Pi/2 around 2.530%, 6.576%, 6.615% and 6.762%, respectively. This study contains the information which seems to be important for practical engineers

A Review of Solar Energy Collectors: Models and Applications

A current study and discussion in detail about many solar energy collectors of various types, components, classifications and configurations, through the analysis of their performance, is our aim through this review paper. The effects of the geometrical parameters of the solar air collectors as well as the functioning parameters on heat transfer and fluid flow processes were also discussed in detail. The numerical, analytical, and experimental analyses on different models of flat plate solar air collectors with various thermal transfer enhancement strategies were shown in various stages, i.e., modelling, control, measurement, and visualization of airfield, determination of heat transfer, control of friction loss and pressure drop, and evaluation of the thermal performance by the measurement of the augmentation in the temperature of the working fluid at a given solar irradiance and under given flow rate. We concluded this review by identifying the various applications possible for the solar air collectors such as heating and cooling of houses, drying agricultural food materials, and water desalination process

Analysis of Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer in a Rectangular Duct with Staggered Baffles

This computational fluid dynamic analysis attempts to simulate the incompressible steady fluid flow and heat transfer in a solar air channel with wall-mounted baffles. Two ꞌSꞌ-shaped baffles, having different orientations, i.e., ꞌSꞌ-upstream and ꞌSꞌ-downstream, were inserted into the channel and fixed to the top and bottom walls of the channel in a periodically staggered manner to develop vortices to improve the mixing and consequently the heat transfer. The analyses are conducted with the Commercial CFD software FLUENT using the finite volume method for Reynolds number varying from 12,000 to 32,000. The numerical results are presented in terms of streamlines, velocity-magnitude, x-velocity, y-velocity, dynamic pressure coefficient, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent viscosity, turbulent intensity, temperature field, coefficient and factor of normalized skin friction, local and average numbers of normalized Nusselt, and thermal performance factor. The insertion of the S-shaped baffles in the channel not only causes a much high friction loss, f/f0 = 3.319 - 32.336, but also provides a considerable augmentation in the thermal transfer rate in the channel, Nu/Nu0 = 1.939 - 4.582, depending on the S-baffle orientations and the Reynolds number. The S-upstream baffle provides higher friction loss and heat transfer rate than the S-Downstream around 56.443 %, 55.700 %, 54.972 %, 54.289 % and 53.660 %; and 25.011 %, 23.455 %, 21.977 %, 20.626 %, and 19.414 % for Re = 12,000, 17,000, 22,000, 27,000, and 32,000, respectively. In addition, the result analysis shows that the optimum thermal performance factor is around 1.513 at the highest Reynolds number and S-downstream

Effects of in-line deflectors on the overall performance of a channel heat exchanger

The turbulent convective thermal transfer in channel heat exchangers (CHEs) is studied numerically via the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) method. Deflectors are inserted on the hot bottom walls of the heat channel to enhance the hydrothermal characteristics. Various shapes of in-line deflectors are considered, namely: rectangular (a/b = 0.00), cascaded rectangular-triangular (a/b = 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75), and triangular (a/b = 1.00) shapes. From the obtained results, the inclusion of in-line deflectors with a/b = 0.75 has given the most significant thermal enhancement factor, which was higher than that for a/b = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 by about 5.36, 5.06, 67.27, and 3.88%, respectively. Also, the in-line cascaded deflector’ case (a/b = 0.75) shows an increase in the enhancement factor (η) from 4 to 15.44% over the cases of one deflector (corrugated, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, arc, (+), S, 45° V, 45° W, T, Γ, and ε-shaped) or two deflectors (staggered corrugated). This highlights the effectiveness of in-line cascaded rectangular-triangular deflectors with a/b = 0.75 in improving the performance of the proposed exchanger for the conditions adopted.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tcfm20hj2022Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Numerical calculations of the thermal-aerodynamic characteristics in a solar duct with multiple V-baffles

The study aimed to enhance the heat transport by improving the hydrodynamic structure of the system by changing and restructuring the duct’s internal geometry. Modern fins, of the shape ‘V’, have been proposed with different dimensions, and they are periodically arranged over the duct surfaces. The most important steps of this research are the change in the V-fin attack-angle (40°–80°), length (Hb/2, 3Hb/4, Hb, 5Hb/4 and 3Hb/2), and separation length (Ds/2, 3Ds/4, Ds and 5Ds/4), as well as the flow rate (6 × 103–3 × 104). The study yielded an optimum case for a 40-degree attack-angle, with a factor of thermal enhancement of 2.163 for the highest value of Reynolds number. On the other hand, improving the length of the V-fins or decreasing in the space between them, increases the flow strength by enlarging the recycling cells, which reflects on the hydrodynamic behavior, and changes the heat transfer. The presence of this new model offins also highlights a hydrothermal improvement ranging between 1.196 and 23.779 percent compared to the previously indicated models, reflecting the effectiveness of the new system of solar heat exchangers with air V-finned ducts.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tcfm20pm2020Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Outdoor thermal comfort optimization through vegetation parameterization : species and tree layout

The optimization of outdoor thermal comfort has become the keystone to guarantee the healthy and comfortable use of outdoor spaces. This study aims to optimize the outdoor thermal comfort through vegetation parameterization in a boulevard located in Guelma city, Algeria during summertime. However, two main parameters were investigated, species and tree layout, through a numerical simulation. We first collected microclimate data of a sunny summer day. Second, we used real microclimate data in different simulations using the Envi-met atmospheric model. The findings reveal that Ficus Nitida is the most significant species to intercept solar radiation and provide shade over the day in Souidani Boudjemaa Boulevard, with a maximum reduction of Ta = 0.3 °C and UTCI = 2.6 °C at 13:00 p.m. Tree layout is a determining parameter in the creation of shaded paths, based on the quality of the shadows cast by the trees, namely, their size. Thereby, planting the washingtonia palm trees along the center of the boulevard is the best option to maximize the shaded area within the boulevard, with maximum reduction of Ta = 1.8 °C and UTCI = 3.5 °C at 16:00 p.m.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainabilityMechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Heat Transfer in Air Flow Past a Bottom Channel Wall-Attached Diamond-Shaped Baffle – Using a CFD Technique

A computational analysis has been conducted to investigate turbulent flow and convective thermal transfer characteristics in a two-dimensional horizontal rectangular section channel with a hot lower wall-mounted diamond-shaped baffle. The calculations are based on the finite volume method, by means of Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics software FLUENT, standard k-epsilon turbulence model with QUICK numerical scheme, and the SIMPLE discretization algorithm has been applied. The fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics, i.e., dynamic pressure coefficient, stream function, mean, axial, and transverse velocities, turbulent viscosity, temperature field, skin friction coefficients, local and average Nusselt numbers, and thermal enhancement factor are presented for flow Reynolds numbers based on the aeraulic diameter of the computational domain ranging from 12,000 to 32,000 at constant surface temperature condition along the upper and lower walls. Effect of the diamond configuration of the insulated baffle is studied numerically and the data obtained from this same baffle model are also compared with that of the simple flat rectangular baffle under similar operating conditions. Over the range under investigation, the improvements are found to be around 3.962 and 29.820 times higher than the smooth air channel with no baffle for heat thermal transfer and skin friction factor, respectively. The maximum TEF is around 1.292 at the highest Reynolds number value, Re = 32,000