Numerical and Experimental Study of the Effect of Secondary Surfaces Fixed Over a Rectangular Vortex Generator

Abstract

In order to cool a heated surface surrounded by fluid flow, vortex generator plays a significant role. The presence of a vortex generator in the flow creates both latitudinal and longitudinal vortices. The vortices energize the boundary layer over the heated surface and excel convective mode of heat transfer. Therefore, the strength of these vortices is directly proportional to the heat transferal rate. The present study considers a vortex generator attached to a heated base plate. The system is studied numerically and experimentally. The existing rectangular vortex generator is modified computationally with a goal to escalate the overall heat transferal rate. The role of secondary surfaces fixed over the primary surface of the rectangular vortex generator is discussed. Water flows over the surface of the base plate at a Reynolds number of 350. And the plate has a constant heat flux of 1 kW/m2. The results show that the secondary surfaces fixed parallel to the heated plate over the vortex generator significantly augment the heat transfer rate to about 13.4%. However, it enhances the drag by 5.7%. A linear regression analysis predicts the suitable placement of the secondary surface with an enhancement of heat transfer rate of about 7.6%, with a decrease in the drag by about 0.7%. In order to validate the obtained results, the best configuration is fabricated and tested experimentally. The experimental outcomes are found to complement the numerical results. In this experiment, the modification yields 25% enhancement in heat transfer rate.