Heat Transfer Measurements in Rectangular Channels With Orthogonal Mode Rotation

Abstract

The influence of rotation on local heat transfer in a rectangular-sectioned duct has been experimentally studied for the case where the duct rotates about an axis orthogonal to its own central axis. The coolant used was air with the flow direction in the radially outward direction. This rotating flow geometry is encountered in the internal cooling of gas turbine rotor blades. Local Nusselt number variations along the duct have been determined over the trailing and leading surfaces. In general terms Coriolis-induced secondary flows are shown to enhance local heat transfer over the trailing surface compared to a stationary duct forced convection situation. The converse is true on the leading surface where significant impediment to local heat transfer can occur. Centripetal buoyancy is shown to influence the heat transfer response with heat transfer being improved on both leading and trailing surfaces as the wall-to-coolant temperature difference is increased with other controlling parameters held constant. Correlating equations are proposed and the results compared with those of other workers in the field.