EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Paper Title:
NUMERICAL MODELLING OF FLUID FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER
IN A CORRUGATED CHANNEL FOR HEAT EXCHANGER APPLICATIONS

No. Author Position University Address E-mail

Ovidius University of Mamaia
Constanta Boulevard no.
1
Viorel lecturer 124,
Ionescu1,2 Constanta
2 2 v_ionescu@univ-ovidius.ro
1. student Doctoral School of Mircea cel
Mechanical Batran Street
Engineering and no. 104,
Mechatronics, Constanta
Maritime University
of Constanta
Anisoara- Ovidius University of Mamaia zanisoara@ univ-ovidius.ro
Arleziana Constanta Boulevard no.
2. Neagu lecturer 124,
Constanta

Introduction /
Purpose of the paper
In this paper, the heat transfer and flow characteristics for various
sinusoidal wavy channels models with different spacing ratio = s/2A and
waviness parameter = 2A/L are numerically investigated. The sinusoidal
wavy channel has the surface described by function
r = s / 2 + A sin ( 2.2884
px / L + p / 2) and the effect of channel
geometry on the wavy wall local pressure, local friction coefficient and
local Nusselt number has been carried out. The channel length Lx and
wavelength (corrugation pitch) L are maintained constant during
simulations. The channel dimensions modified are the width s (at values of
1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 mm) and the amplitude A (at values of 0.4, 0.65, 0.8 and 1
mm).

Theoretical background /
Research problem
Due to the importance of heat exchanger devices in various engineering
applications, heat transfer enhancement in such systems has gained great
popularity. Corrugated wavy channels can be used in specific heat
exchanger industrial applications, like in an engine intercooler system or in
primary surface heat exchanger recuperators for micro-turbines.
Geometrical complexity of such a wavy channel affects largely the flow
pattern, many parameters like amplitude, phase angle, inter-wall spacing

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 and corrugation angle disturbing the hydrodynamic behavior of fluid flow
through this channel. The recirculation regions near the channel wall
caused by wavy wall specific geometry can improve mixing of the fluid,
which leads to the improvement in heat transfer.

In this paper, a two-dimensional corrugated wavy channel was

numerically developed in the Finite Element Method (FEM) based Comsol
Approach / Multiphysics software (vers.5.2) with the help of Laminar Flow and Heat
Research methodology Transfer in Fluid interfaces in order to investigate the effect of spacing
ratio and waviness parameter on the variation of some thermal and
fluid flow indicators along the channel side walls.

Temperature gradient along the central part of the channel corrugation

increases with increase of the wave amplitude A(from 0.4 mm to 1 mm) at
a constant value s = 2mm for the models with the same Reynolds number.
The most uniform temperature distribution along the upper and lower
channel walls was registered for model M5 with = 1.154 and = 0.137,
suggesting the lowest heat transfer between the fluid and walls from all the
Results /
models studied at this corrugation of of the channel.
Main findings
The maximum values of pressure was obtained along the concave part of
the channel wall for all the models investigated. models M1( = 2.5, =
0.084) and M5 presented the lowest pressure variation from the concave to
convex portion of the channels, meaning that the core of the main stream
flows are less affected by the side wall in those cases.

From the numerical modelling it was showed that thermal boundary layer
gets thinner in the concave portions of the channel and amplitudes of the
local Nusselt number distribution along the lower channel wall increased
as the spacing ratio increases from 1.154 to 2.308 at a constant waviness
Contributions /
parameter = 0.137.
Original aspects
The pressure and friction coefficient variation from the concave to
convex portion of the channels increased as the waviness parameter was
raised from 0.084 to 0.1, decreasing from 2.5 to 1. In this case, just a
small variation of local Nusselt number distribution was observed.

o Manufacturing processes optimization techniques

o Innovative products, technologies and manufacturing processes
Link with the conference in civil engineering
theme

Please submit your extended abstract according to the instructions found in section Submission on
http://inter-eng.upm.ro/.
 Key words (5) corrugation, laminar flow, heat transfer, Nusselt number, friction

Please submit your extended abstract according to the instructions found in section Submission on
http://inter-eng.upm.ro/.