Entropy generation in a rotating channel

Abstract

A computational study is performed on a three-dimensional turbulent flow and heat transfer in a rotating rectangular channel with an aspect ratio of 10:1, oriented 120° from the direction of rotations. Entropy generation due to heat transfer and fluid friction is computed and reported. To examine the influence of rotation number and density ratio on volumetric entropy generation rate, rotation number and density ratio are varied in the simulations. A numerical scheme employing a control volume approach is introduced to solve the governing equations of transport. A constant heat flux boundary condition at the leading and trailing edges of the channel is considered to resemble the blade heating. It is found that the rotation number and density ratio have a significant effect on the entropy generation rate in the channel. In this case, increasing the density ratio enhances the entropy generation rate, whereas increasing the rotation number modifies the trend of the entropy generation rate in the channel.