Numerical Prediction of Transitional Characteristics of Flow and Heat Transfer in a Corrugated Duct

Abstract

The numerical prediction of transitional characteristics of fluid flow and heat transfer in periodic fully developed corrugated duct is carried out by using a Lam-Bremhorst low Reynolds number turbulence model. Computations were performed for Prandtl number of 0.7, in the Reynolds number range of 100 to 2500, for corrugation angles of θ = 15 and 30 deg, and for three interwall spacings. The predicted transitional Reynolds number is lower than the value for the parallel plate duct and it decreases with increasing corrugation angle. Experiments were also performed for pressure drop measurements and for flow visualization and the results were compared with the numerical predictions.