Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Multiple Channels and Pin Fins Forming Convergent/Divergent Shape

Abstract

Heat enhancement has been addressed by studying flow in channels with different shapes. The present paper investigates a particular channel shape with divergent and convergent forms. Two configurations are addressed: wall channels and pin-fin walls forming divergent/convergent shapes. The flow is assumed to be in a laminar and steady-state condition. The numerical model investigated the heat enhancement for different flow rates represented by Reynolds numbers. The average Nusselt number and the performance evaluation criterion revealed that wall channels outperformed the pin-fin shape. The performance evaluation criterion is higher than 1 for the wall channels. The main reason for this is that the flow passes through and above the wall creating mixing. This flow configuration happened since the wall height is shorter than the test cavity height. It is important to emphasize that pin-fins forming convergent channels did not improve heat enhancement when compared to convergent channels. No significant variation in the pressure drop was detected.