Computation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Two-Pass Rotating Rectangular Channels (AR=1:1, AR=1:2, AR=1:4) With 45-deg. Angled Ribs by Reynolds Stress Turbulence Model

Abstract

Numerical predictions of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer are presented for rotating two-pass rectangular channel with 45-deg rib turbulators. Three channels with different aspect ratios (AR=1:1; AR=1:2; AR=1:4) were investigated. Detailed predictions of mean velocity, mean temperature, and Nusselt number for two Reynolds numbers (Re = 10,000 and Re = 100,000) were carried out. The rib height is fixed as constant and the rib-pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) is 10, but the rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratios (e/Dh) are 0.125, 0.094, and 0.078, for AR=1:1, AR=1:2, and AR=1:4 channel, respectively. The channel orientations are set at 90 deg, corresponding to the cooling passages between mid-portion and the leading edge of a turbine blade. The rotation number varies from 0.0 to 0.28 and the inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio varies from 0.13 to 0.40, respectively. The primary focus of this study is the effect of the channel aspect ratio on the nature of the flow and heat transfer enhancement in a rectangular ribbed channel under rotating conditions. A multi-block Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was employed in conjunction with a near-wall second-moment turbulence closure to provide detailed resolution of the Reynolds stresses and turbulent heat fluxes induced by the rib turbulators under both the stationary and rotating conditions.