Computation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Two-Pass Channels With 60 deg Ribs

Numerical predictions of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer are presented for a two-pass square channel with and without 60 deg angled parallel ribs. Square sectioned ribs were employed along one side surface. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio e/Dh is 0.125 and the rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) is 10. The computation results were compared with the experimental data of Ekkad and Han [1] at a Reynolds number (Re) of 30,000. A multi-block numerical method was used with a chimera domain decomposition technique. The finite analytic method solved the Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes equation in conjunction with a near-wall second-order Reynolds stress (second-moment) closure model, and a two-layer k-ε isotropic eddy viscosity model. Comparing the second-moment and two-layer calculations with the experimental data clearly demonstrated that the angled rib turbulators and the 180 deg sharp turn of the channel produced strong non-isotropic turbulence and heat fluxes, which significantly affected the flow fields and heat transfer coefficients. The near-wall second-moment closure model provides an improved heat transfer prediction in comparison with the k-ε model.