Doc ID - 1009

Study Of Heat Transfer At Constant Wall Temperature For Laminar Simultaneously Developing Flow In Rectangular Channel
Prasenjit Bhattacharya(a), Amar Nath Samanta (b), Sudipto Chakraborty (c)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302

ABSTRACT
The present study experimentally investigates the effect of delta winglet type of vortex generator on steady state heat transfer under constant wall temperature for hydrodynamically and thermally developing laminar flow in a channel of rectangular cross-section. Heat transfer for flow in rectangular ducts is important in continuous casting process of steel industry where coolant flows through vertical rectangular slots in copper mold. The experimental setup consists of a flow unit, heating unit and temperature measurement unit monitored by a PC-based data acquisition system. Experimental runs have been taken at different flowrates and wall temperature and average heat transfer coefficient estimated from measured flowrate and steady state temperature rise of water. Experimental study has been restricted to laminar flow regime due to limitations of flowrate in our experimental setup. It is observed that the extent of heat transfer augmentation using delta winglet pair is more at lower flowrate. Also average heat transfer coefficient increases with increase in flowrate and is almost unaffected by changes in wall temperature. Experimental data has been validated by CFD simulation using FLUENT software package. Experimental results closely match the predictions of CFD simulation. Further experimental runs have been planned to study the effect of nanofluid on heat transfer augmentation using the same setup.

Keywords: CFD, FLUENT, simultaneously developing flow, continuous casting, copper mold, heat
transfer coefficient

(a) Corresponding author: Research Scholar, email: prasenjit@che.iitkgp.ernet.in; Tel: 91-3222283948

(b) Professor: email: amar@che.iitkgp.ernet.in

Doc ID - 1009

(c) Associate Professor: email: sc@che.iitkgp.ernet.in

Doc ID - 1009

1. INTRODUCTION
Heat transfer in laminar flow occurs across a thermal boundary layer. Unlike turbulent boundary layer, which has vigorous mixing that readily transfers heat, laminar boundary layer has lower heat transfer coefficient [1]. Heat transfer augmentation can be achieved by disrupting the growth of thermal boundary layer and/or causing transition to turbulent flow. Two frequently used passive techniques for Heat transfer augmentation are vortex generator (e.g. delta wing) and nanofluid. The advantage of passive techniques is that unlike active techniques, they do not require additional energy to modify the flow. Protrusion type vortex generator generates counter-rotating longitudinal vortices which swirl the primary flow and increase the mixing of downstream regions. The result is enhanced heat transfer between flowing fluid and channel wall due to disruption in the growth of thermal boundary layer and the consequent increase in heat transfer coefficient. Fig. 1 shows a schematic of delta winglet type of vortex generator forming longitudinal vortices [2].

Fig. 1. Schematic of delta winglet [2]

Doc ID - 1009 Nanofluid describes a new class of solid-liquid mixture with suspended metallic or nonmetallic particles of nanometer dimension. Suspended nanoparticles can alter transport

properties and heat transfer performance of working fluid, which exhibits great potential to augment heat transfer. Small size alleviates sedimentation and pressure drop problems encountered with microparticles. Several numerical studies have been conducted to assess the impact of delta winglet type of vortex generator in hydrodynamically developed and thermally developing flow [3-5]. However literature review did not provide any study on effect of delta winglet in entrance region viz. hydrodynamically and thermally developing region. The present study experimentally investigates effect of delta winglet type of vortex generator on steady state heat transfer under constant wall temperature for hydrodynamically and thermally developing laminar flow in a channel of rectangular cross-section. Experimental data has been validated by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation using FLUENT software package. Heat transfer for flow in rectangular ducts is important in continuous casting process of steel industry where coolant flows through vertical rectangular slots in copper mold.

2. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
Fig. 2 shows the schematic of experimental Setup. Setup consists of a flow loop, heating unit and measurement & control unit. Flow loop includes a centrifugal pump, a rotameter, a reservoir, a collection tank and a test section. Rated capacity of the pump is 4 lpm at 15 metre head. Range of rotameter is 0.3 to 3.0 lpm. The test section consists of two rectangular channels of stainless steel having cross-section of 10 mm x 20 mm and 20 mm x 20 mm each with two passes immersed in a constant temperature bath. Channels are bounded by three walls and top wall is open to atmosphere so that delta wings could be easily affixed to bottom wall after completing the runs for plain channel flow. To prevent intermixing of hot bath fluid and cold working fluid, water level in the bath is maintained so that only half of the depth of the channel remain submerged. Test section is heated by a 8 kW electrical heater. Type K thermocouples are mounted at inlet and outlet of each pass to measure fluid

Doc ID - 1009 temperature. Temperature readings are monitored by a PC-based data acquisition system. All the thermocouples and rotameter are calibrated before starting experimental runs.

Two delta winglet pairs with spacing of 5H (10 cm) are affixed to the bottom wall of 20 mm x 20 mm channel after completing the runs for plain channel flow. Two pairs of delta winglet are affixed so that temperature rise due to delta winglet is appreciable so as to nullify the uncertainty of experimental measurements. The delta winglet pair is so affixed that the angle of attack is 450 and the leading edge of the first pair of delta winglet is at 5H (10 cm) from channel inlet. Apex angle of the winglet is 450 and wing span is 10 mm which leads to aspect ratio of 2. The thickness of the winglets fabricated from glass is 1 mm.

Doc ID - 1009

3. THEORY AND CALCULATIONS

Average heat transfer coefficient can be determined from measured flowrate and temperatures at steady state from fundamental energy balance as in Eq. (1):

h(Tw T )(W + H )dx = mC p dT h(W + H ) L = mC p ln( h=

where

Tw Ti ) Tw To

(1)

mC p (W + H ) L

ln(

Tw Ti ) Tw To

h: heat transfer coefficient m: mass flow rate of working fluid Cp: specific heat of working fluid W: width of channel H: height of channel L: length of channel Tw: wall temperature Ti: inlet temperature of working fluid To: outlet temperature of working fluid

Experimental results are validated using CFD simulation with FLUENT software package (FLUENT 6.2.16). Governing equations - Continuity equation, Navier Stokes equation and Energy equation are solved sequentially using steady state 3D segregated solver. Laminar flow is assumed due to low Reynolds number (ranging between 1384 and 2795). Velocity inlet boundary condition is prescribed at inlet, outflow at outlet and symmetry at the top open wall. All other walls satisfy no-slip condition. Bottom wall and delta winglet faces are at constant temperature. Temperature profile is used to specify thermal boundary condition at the sidewalls using UDF (User-Defined Function) to account for water level in the bath. Thermo-physical properties of working fluid (water) are taken constant corresponding to

Doc ID - 1009 that at 350C since temperature rise is not appreciable. Mesh is constructed using GAMBIT with mesh spacing of 1 mm. This resulted in 329600 hexahedral cells for the plain channel. For the case with delta wing, tetrahedral meshing is restricted to the first 30 cm of channel (region of wings) to reduce computational effort. SIMPLE (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations) scheme is used for pressure-velocity coupling. Second order upwind scheme is used for discretization of momentum and energy equations. Convergence is judged by continuity residual falling below 10-3 and energy residual below 10-6.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1 depicts the effect of delta winglet pair on heat transfer augmentation.at three different flowrates (1 lpm, 1.5 lpm, 1.8 lpm) and three different wall temperatures (60 0C, 700C, 800C). Experimental runs are conducted with one pass of 20 mm x 20 mm channel due to ease of affixing delta winglet pair. The Setup allows a maximum possible flowrate of 1.8 lpm without overflow. Effect is quantified in terms of average temperature rise of working fluid. It is observed that the extent of heat transfer augmentation with delta winglet pair is more at lower flowrate and is almost unaffected by changes in wall temperature. This is consistent with the observation of Leu et al [6] that effect of vortex generator on heat transfer enhancement is more pronounced at lower Reynolds number. Experimental results closely match the predictions of FLUENT simulation. Average heat transfer coefficient is calculated from measured flowrate and average steady-state temperature rise of working fluid using Eq. (1) and tabulated in Table 2. It is observed that average heat transfer coefficient - both with and without delta winglet pairs - increases with increase in flowrate and is almost unaffected by changes in wall temperature. Fig. 3 pictorially depicts the effect of flowrate on overall heat transfer augmentation using delta winglet pair keeping wall temperature constant at 600C whereas Fig. 4 depicts the effect of wall temperature on heat transfer augmentation keeping flowrate constant at 1.8 lpm.

Doc ID - 1009

Table 1: Effect of delta winglet pair on steady-state temperature rise

Flowrat Wall Plain channel (benchmark) Tinlet T (0C) T (0C) [expt] Plain [simu] channel With two delta winglet pairs Tinlet T (0C) T (0C) (0C) [expt] With two delta winglet [simu] Aug % 37.7 pairs 35.4 expt 36.7 36.3 428 37.7 457 472 491 504 4.2 3.4 simu 2.8 4.2 548 5.4 690 759 758 757 4.7 [expt] 4.5 3.9 5.7 32.9% 7.2 16.3% 15.4% 14.7% 15.6% 31.3% 21.4% 12% 16.7% 17.4% % [expt] Aug

e (lpm) temp 0 Flowrate Wall ( C) temp 0 ( C) 1.0 60 (0C) 38.0 (lpm) 1.5 60 36.7 1.8 60 35.7 1.8 70 36.8 1.0 1.8 80 60 38.7 1.5 60 1.8 60 1.8 70 1.8 80

3.2 3.0 (benchmark) 2.8 2.7 expt simu 2.5 2.6 3.6 3.6 322 328 4.6 4.5 393 409 409 451 428 453 436 449

Table 2: Effect of delta winglet pair on average heat transfer coefficient

Doc ID - 1009

Fig. 3: Effect of flowrate on heat transfer augmentation

400 Heat transfer rate / W 300 200 100 0 0 0.5 1 Flowrate / lpm

Plain channel With delta w inglet pairs

1.5

Fig. 4: Effect of wall temperature on heat transfer augmentation

800 Heat transfer rate / W 600 400 200 0 40 60

Plain channel With delta w inglet pairs

80
0

100

Wall temperature / C

Doc ID - 1009

5. CONCLUSIONS
Experimental studies are performed with and without delta winglet pair to investigate the extent of heat transfer augmentation possible using vortex generator in entrance region of rectangular duct. Experimental results are validated using CFD simulation with FLUENT software package. Experimental results closely match the predictions of FLUENT simulation. Main inferences are as follows:

Extent of heat transfer augmentation with delta winglet pair is more at lower flowrate, Average heat transfer coefficient increases with increase in flowrate - both with and without delta winglet pair - and is almost unaffected with changes in wall temperature.

Experimental studies are planned to investigate the effect of nanofluid on forced convective heat transfer.

6. REFERENCES
[1] D. Westphalen, K. Roth, J. Brodrick, Heat Trf Enhancement, ASHRAE J, 48 (2006) 68-70 [2] S.Tiggelbeck, N.Mitra, M.Fiebig, Flow structure and heat transfer in a channel with multiple longitudinal vortex generators, Exp. Thermal Fluid Sc., 5 (1992) 425-436 [3] G. Biswas, H. Chattopadhyay, Heat transfer in a channel with built-in wing-type vortex generators, IJHMT, 35(4) (1992) 803-14 [4] P. Deb, G. Biswas, N.K. Mitra, Heat transfer and flow structure in laminar and turbulent flows in a rectangular channel with longitudinal vortices, IJHMT, 38 (1995) 2427-44 [5] G. Biswas, E.G. Tulapurkara, S.R. Hiravennavar, A note on the flow and heat transfer enhancement in a channel with built-in winglet pair, IJHFF, 28 (2007) 299-305 [6] J. Leu, Y. Wu, J. Jang, Heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in plate-fin and tube heat exchangers with a pair of block shape vortex generators, IJHMT, 47 (2004) 4327-38

10