On Prediction of Thermal-Hydraulic Characteristics of Square-Sectioned Ribbed Cooling Ducts

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation on prediction of local and mean thermal-hydraulic characteristics in rib-roughened ducts of square cross section. the Navier–Stokes and energy equations together with two low-Re k–ε turbulence models are solved numerically. The Reynolds turbulent stress tensor is calculated by two methods, namely, an eddy viscosity model (EVM) and an explicit algebraic stress model (EASM). The pressure–velocity coupling is handled by the SIMPLEC algorithm and calculations were carried out on a collocated grid. The convection–diffusion terms were calculated using the hybrid scheme (the changes in the results obtained by the other schemes, e.g., QUICK and Van Leer, were not significant). The considered ribbed duct configuration is identical to that in an experimental study and comparisons between the predictions and experimental results are provided. A discussion of the capabilities of the two methods (EVM and EASM) is presented.