Transient mixed convective heat transfer predictions around three heated cylinders in a horizontal channel

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effect of transient mixed convective flow interaction between circular cylinders and channel walls on heat transfer with three circular cylinders arranged in an isosceles right‐angled triangle within a horizontal channel.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a semi‐implicit finite element method to solve the incompressible Navier‐Stokes equation, energy equation and continuity equation in primitive‐variable form by assuming the flow to be two‐dimensional and laminar.

Findings

Provides information indicating that the transient streamlines, isotherms, drag coefficient and time‐mean Nusselt number around the surfaces of three cylinders are affected by various gap‐to‐diameter ratio, Reynolds numbers and Grashof numbers. The results show that the maximum value of surface‐ and time‐mean Nusselt number along cylinders exists at S=0.75.

Research limitations/implications

It is limited to two‐dimensional laminar flow for the transient mixed convective flow interaction between circular cylinders and channel walls in a horizontal channel.

Practical implications

A very useful source of information and favorable advice for people is applied to heat exchangers, space heating, power generators and other thermal apparatus.

Originality/value

The results of this study may be of interest to engineers attempting to develop thermal control of thermal apparatus and to researchers interested in the flow‐modification aspects of mixed convection between circular cylinders and channel walls in a horizontal channel.

Citation

Wu, H., Perng, S., Huang, S. and Jue, T. (2006), "Transient mixed convective heat transfer predictions around three heated cylinders in a horizontal channel", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 16 No. 6, pp. 674-692. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615530610679057