International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 6, Issue 7, Jul 2015, pp. 40-52, Article ID: IJMET_06_07_006

Available online at
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ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359
IAEME Publication
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CFD ANALYSIS AND ENHANCEMENT OF

HEAT TRANSFER IN RECTANGULAR
CHANNEL USING BLOCKAGE WITH
ELONGATED HOLE
S. Kandwal
Assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Institute of Technology Gopeshwar, Kothiyalsen, Chamoli,
Uttarakhand, India, 246401
Rajeev Pandey
Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering
DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Dr. S. Singh
Associate professor, Associate professor
Bipin Tripathi Kumaon Institute of Technology, Dwarahat, Almora,
Uttarakhand, India, 263653
ABSTRACT
A model of channel with blockage designed and meshed in ALTAIR
HYPERMESH V.11 and used ALTAIR ACUSOLVE for CFD analysis. The
CFD analysis is validated by the experimental data. The rectangular channel
has a width-to-height ratio of 11:1. The blockages are subdivided into two
different cases using two different aspect ratios (hole-width-to-height ratio)
which are determined by the number of holes with four and six holes per
blockage. According to the results it is observed that at all Reynolds numbers,
the h and Nu increases with increase in pitch ratio up to the value of 6.0 and
then decreases with further increase in pitch ratio. This variation in h and Nu
is due to flow reattachment downstream of the blockages opening and then
redevelopment of boundary layer up to the succeeding next blockages
opening. The blockages with shorter holes enhance heat transfer better than
those with longer holes but they also yield significantly higher pressure drops
than blockages with longer holes.
Key words: Heat transfer coefficient and CFD analysis.

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole

Cite this Article: Kandwal, S, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. Singh, S and. CFD
Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using
Blockage with Elongated Hole. International Journal of Mechanical
Engineering and Technology, 6(7), 2015, pp. 40-52.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=6&IType=7
_____________________________________________________________________

1. INTRODUCTION
Gas turbine vanes and blades are exposed to high air temperature. And increasing
turbine rotor inlet temperature directly leads to a rise in thermal efficiency and output
power of gas turbines. The rotor inlet temperature is far higher than the melting point
of the blade and vane material. Hence, cooling technology of turbine blades has
become one of the most important key factors for improvement of gas turbine engine
efficiency since 1970s. According to Takeishi [1992] [4], cooling technology enables
turbine inlet temperature to increase by 25 C per year but the achievement of superalloy development technology limits by 10 C per year. Thus to study cooling
technology is more effective than to develop higher thermal resistance materials for
gas turbine improvement. Gas turbine blades are cooled by the air directly extracted
from the engine compressor. This extracted air causes a disadvantage of thermal
performance by incurring pressure drop. Hence an optimized cooling technique is
needed considering operating conditions. Internal cooling can be performed by
passing the extracted air from the compressor through several serpentine passages
inside the blades moving out the heat from the blades. For the gas turbine blades rib
turbulated cooling, pin-fin cooling, and impingement cooling are applied in the
blades internal coolant passage in order to remove heat from the blade inside. Figure
1(a) presents the commonly used turbine blade internal cooling techniques. Moon and
Lau [2003] [2] measured pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient by the liquid
crystal technique on the rectangular duct with perforated walls. They showed that the
number of walls and the configuration of holes did not affect the heat transfer level.
Their results also showed that the smaller holes could increase heat transfer
coefficient but pressure drop also greatly increased.

Figure 1 (a) External Film Cooling (b) Internal Convective Cooling

Lau et al. [2003] [5] examined the heat transfer and pressure drop on a rectangular
duct with perforated walls equipped with staggered holes. They showed that walls

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S. Kandwal, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. S. Singh

with circular holes and square holes increased heat transfer but the increase in
pressure drop was much severe. They concluded that the shape and size of holes
should be optimized in order to get better thermal performance. In the early period of
gas turbine engines, only jet impingement cooling method was used for the leading
edge cooling of blade. Jet impingement cooling is to cool the blade by air
impingement on the surfaces of serpentine passages. Impinging was the most effective
cooling method for the leading edge making other methods unnecessary. But as gas
turbine technology has been developed, the rotor inlet temperature has been also
increased for turbine engine efficiency. Therefore, internal cooling technologies using
turbulators such as ribs and pin-fins have been developed [8].

1.1. Analytical Solution

The hydraulic diameter of test channel is calculated as:
The average Nusselt numbers for each of the three wall segments of the channel
Between two blockages was calculated as:

The average Nusselt numbers were normalized using reference Nusselt number for
fully developed turbulent flow in the channel with smooth walls. This reference
Nusselt number was defined as:
Nu0 = 0.023Re0.8 Pr0.4

Where

the

averaged

heat

transfer

coefficients

were

defined

as:

Where, Tb = Average bulk mean temperature =

Pressure drop across the blockages is calculated as:
P = g y1 (w a)

1.2. Modeling and Simulation

AcuSolve a computer program, based on finite Element Method (FEM) is one of the
powerful packages of existing commercial software for solving fluid flow and heat
transfer problems.

Figure 2 Design of Physical Model in ALTAIR HYPERWORKS (11.0)

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole

The purpose of this study is to visualize the performance of air duct by providing
the artificial roughness in the form of blocks, as well as design of artificial roughness
geometry which will give optimum performance. CATIA V5 was used to create
geometries and ALTAIR HYPERMESH used to generate the unstructured mesh. A
schematic of the geometric model of the channel used in the study is shown in above
Figure.
Air flow inside a three-dimensional (3-D) channel object, with the Assumption
that the heat transfer to the atmosphere is negligible. The fluid properties were set to
be similar to that used in the experiment reported in. These blockages were installed
perpendicular to the direction of the main coolant flow in a wide rectangular channel.
Thus blockages had the same cross section as the rectangular channel

Figure 3 Geometry of channel with blockage of six elongated hole

1.3. Heat Transfer characteristics

Heat transfer enhancement effect occurs when the secondary flows mix with the main
flows. There are two different kinds of secondary flows between two staggeringly
arrayed consecutive blockages. One is formed when the coolant passes through the
elongated holes as in rib turbulators for instance [1]. The other is built when the
coolant impinges onto the solid part between the two consecutive holes of blockages
On the basis of flow structure between two consecutive blockages, five heat transfer
enhancement deciding factors can be speculated. The first factor is the number of
impingement region. For instance, the blockages with four holes have four
impingement regions and that with six holes have six impingement regions. The
second and the third are the total and partial areas of impingement region,
respectively. Here, partial area means the region between two consecutive holes.
The fourth and the fifth are the total and partial widths of reattachment region,
respectively. Here, partial width means the width of one hole. These five heat
transfer enhancement deciding factors are controlled by the relative pitch ratio (P/e)
between the blockages and hence decides the final heat transfer enhancement effect.
The impingement and reattachment regions are not formed when blockages come

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S. Kandwal, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. S. Singh

closer to each other i.e., at lesser value of P/e, because the coolant in this case directly
passes to next blockages opening without giving any secondary flow [3, 6, 7].

1.4. Results and Discussion

Table 1 Heat transfer co-efficient Comparison between CFD Analysis and Experimental
Results for Blockages with four elongated holes:

P/e

4.5

6.0

9.0

12.1

Re

CFD
Value (h)

Exp.
Value (h)

% error

4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195

36.96
42.08
55.61
69.23
41.02
45.96
62.14
76.39
36.72
41.33
55.32
69.10
31.18
35.601
46.76
58.66

35.62
40.73
55.86
67.01
39.31
44.61
59.92
74.05
35.12
40.04
53.58
66.46
30.00
34.31
45.20
56.68

3.761931
3.31451
3.132832
3.312938
4.350038
3.026227
3.70494
3.160027
4.555809
3.221778
3.24748
3.972314
3.933333
3.762751
3.451327
3.493296

Avg. %
Error

3.38

3.56

3.749

3.66

The plot shows Convective heat transfer coefficient variation with pitch distance.

Figure 4 Heat transfer coefficients CFD Analysis

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole

Figure 5 Heat transfer coefficients Experimental Analysis

As compared to blockages with four holes, the convective heat transfer

coefficients have superior values for blockages with six holes at all Reynolds number.
Table 2 Heat transfer co-efficient Comparison between CFD Analysis and Experimental
Results for Blockages with six elongated holes:

P/e

4.5

6.0

9.0

12.1

Re

CFD
Value (h)

Exp.
Value (h)

% error

4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195

42.1
50.71
64.8
78.96
44.57
53.44
68.79
83.52
38.89
48.82
61.67
76.43
32.52
43.08
55.16
65.82

38.7
47.03
60.35
76.24
41.24
49.65
63.53
78.45
36.92
45.93
58.53
71.43
30.5
40.91
51.61
62.85

8.78553
8.074685
5.3644
6.622951
7.824793
7.633434
6.292184
5.13321
7.373654
8.279553
5.36477
6.795741
7.502623
6.462715
6.99986
4.725537

Avg. %
Error
7.871

7.612

5.998

5.882

The reason is that increased total widths of reattachment region (23.1 cm for six
holes as compared to 22.4 cm in four holes) and impingement region area are
dominant factors of heat transfer enhancement in case low hole aspect ratio (a/h) or
for blockage with six holes.

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S. Kandwal, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. S. Singh

Figure 6 Heat transfer coefficients by CFD Analysis

As the hole aspect ratio increases both partial width of reattachment region and
partial impingement area between two consecutive blockages also increases but the
number of impingement regions decreases from six to four. This causes low value of
h at all Reynolds number for large aspect ratio hole i.e., blockage with four holes.

Figure 7 Heat transfer coefficients by Experimental Analysis

As the air flow rate increases, the heat transfer enhancement first decreases and
then again increases. Though average Nusselt number was found to increase with
increase in Reynolds number, the Nusselt number ratio decreases. The increase in
average Nusselt number is due to better turbulence mixing at increased flow rate. The
increase in Reynolds number also causes an increase in the unsteady reverse flow just
behind the downstream blockages which helps in better mixing. However, the Nusselt
number ratio decreases due to the fact that as Reynolds number increases the flow
tends to reattach quickly and so the effect on the heat transfer coefficient is
considerably reduced. These results also confirm that even though average convective

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole

heat transfer coefficient for forced convection increases proportionally to Reynolds

number, the increase rate of reference Nusselt number (Nu0) surpasses it. Table shows
that the average Nusselt number ratios of the blockages with four or six holes in case
of Reynolds number of 8133 and 10195 are superior to the Reynolds number value of
6148.

Figure 8 Nusselt number variation with pitch distance for four elongated holes

Figure 9 Nusselt number variation with pitch distance for six elongated holes

This is due to the enhancement in impinging and turbulent mixing effect of

blockages with increase in flow rate and therefore for higher value of Reynolds
number, the average Nusselt number ratios again increases. With an increase of the
aspect ratio of the holes, the corresponding Nusselt number ratios also significantly
increases.

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S. Kandwal, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. S. Singh

Table 3 Pressure Drop Comparison between CFD Analysis and Experimental Results for
Blockages with four elongated holes
Re

4.5

6.0

9.0

12.1
.

4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195

CFD
P
(N/m2)
57.87
109.36
224.12
346.53
54.82
106.76
181.81
269.88
53.66
95.17
161
219.15
50.96
81.17
133.33
185.24

Experimental P
(N/m2)

% Error

50.62
97.98
199.24
303.76
47.68
94.72
160.04
238.43
46.38
83.28
140.44
195.97
44.10
73.49
117.58
163.31

14.32
11.61
12.48
14.08
14.97
12.71
13.60
13.19
15.69
14.27
14.63
11.82
15.55
10.45
13.39
13.42

Figure 10 Pressure drop plot CFD analysis

Figure 11 Pressure drop plot Experimental analysis

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole

1.5. Pressure contour plot for four elongated holes

Figure 12 50.8 mm pitch at Re 4347

Table 4 Pressure Drop Comparison between CFD Analysis and Experimental Results for
Blockages with six elongated holes
P/e

4.5

6.0

9.0

12.1.

Re

CFD P
(N/m2)

Experimental P
(N/m2)

% Error

4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195
4347
6148
8133
10195

68.262
135.847
239.889
351.133
61.924
124.781
210.237
270.642
53.984
119.714
198.738
252.985
45.605
108.46
152.691
240.177

58.795
117.581
210.673
310.291
55.526
113.665
202.507
244.96
48.994
109.419
192.708
232.14
42.461
99.62
127.91
214.21

16.10171
15.53482
13.86794
13.16248
11.52253
9.779616
3.817152
10.48416
10.18492
9.408786
10.39396
8.979495
7.404442
8.87372
19.37378
12.12222

Figure 13 Pressure drop plot by CFD analysis

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S. Kandwal, Rajeev Pandey and Dr. S. Singh

Figure 14 Pressure drop plot by Experimental analysis

Pressure contour plot for six elongated holes

Figure 15 50.8 mm pitch at Re 4347

2. CONCLUSIONS
For the CFD analysis performed to study average heat transfer enhancement on
rectangular channel wall, the conclusions are as follows:
1. The low aspect ratio case (Blockages having six holes) showed the effective heat
transfer enhancement as compared to high aspect ratio case (Blockages having four
holes).
2. For the blockages, as hole aspect ratio increases, the heat transfer on the wall
segments is enhanced due to the increase in the reattached region and partial
impingement area. In this case, the flow reattachment and partial impingement area
are the dominant factors determining the heat transfer on the channel wall.
3. In the CFD analysis we have assumed that the duct wall as prefect adiabatic wall as
wall boundary condition which is not true in real case, no object is perfectly acts as
insulator or adiabatic i.e. heat transfer through the duct walls are assumed to be zero
hence heat transfer to atmosphere is zero. There is complete heat transfer from heated
wall to air is happening hence total heat transfer to air more than that of experimental
results.
4. Comparison of the computationally derived results with that of the experiments
shows a good correlation. Hence the proposed analysis method has demonstrated a

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CFD Analysis and Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel Using Blockage
with Elongated Hole
workable alternative to obtain heat transfer enhancement and thermal performance by
manipulating the results from ACU Solve simulation.

In this study, analysis to measure average heat transfer enhancement were

performed for blockages with only elongated holes for the purpose of application of
gas turbine trailing edge or middle portion internal cooling. Based on the results, P/e
ratio of 6.0 and Case 1(blockages with four holes) is the best option based on TP
value, but Case 2 (blockages with four holes) can be accepted if the level of penalty
from pressure drop is acceptable.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Satyendra Singh and Rajeev
Pandey for their guidance and assistance in this study work. The reality is that Dr.
Satyendra Singh and Rajeev Pandey were much more than an advisor for me. They
always helped me in all the technical and non-technical issues during the production
of this work. Their encouragement and efforts led this report to successful completion
in a timely fashion.

REFERENCES
[1]

[2]
[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]
[8]

Pandey, R. Heat transfer enhancement through blockages with elongated holes in

a rectangular channel. Ph. D thesis, Mechanical Engineering Department, India,
DIT University, 2010.
Moon, S. W. and Lau, S. C. Heat transfer between blockages with holes in a
rectangular channel. ASME J. Heat transfer, 125, 2003, pp. 587594.
Metzger, D. E., Fan, Z. X. and Shepard, W. B. Pressure loss and heat transfer
through multiple rows of short pin fins, in Heat Transfer, 3, Grigull U. et al., eds.,
Washington, DC: Hemisphere, 1982, pp. 137142.
Takeishi, K. Heat transfer research in high temperature industrial gas turbines, in
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Greece, 1992.
Lau, S. C., Cervantes, J., Han, J. C., Rudolph, R. J. and Flannery, K.
Measurements of wall heat(mass) transfer for flow through blockages with round
and square holes in a wide rectangular channel. Int J. Heat mass Transfer, 46,
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Lee, Y. Heat transfer enhancement for turbulent flow through blockages with
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Shin, S. and Kwak, J. S. Effect of hole shape on the heat transfer in a rectangular
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Taslim, M. E. and Spring, S. D. Effects of turbulator profile and spacing on heat
transfer and friction in a channel. AIAA Journal of Thermodynamics and Heat
Transfer, 8, 1994, pp. 555562.

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