Large-eddy simulation of the high-Reynolds-number flow through a high-aspect-ratio cooling duct

Abstract

We present well-resolved large-eddy-simulations (LES) of a straight, high-aspect-ratio cooling duct (HARCD) at a bulk Reynolds number of Re = 110 • 103 and an average Nusselt number of Nu = 371. The geometry and boundary conditions have been defined together with Rochlitz et al. (2015), who conducted the experimental measurements for this case. Water was chosen as coolant. The current investigation focuses on the influence of asymmetrical wall heating on the flow field and specifically on the influence of the turbulence-induced secondary flow on turbulent heat transfer, the spatial development of the temperature boundary layer and the accompanying viscosity modulation. Due to the viscosity drop in the vicinity of the heated wall we observe a decrease in turbulent length scales and in turbulence anisotropy, resulting in a decrease of turbulent mixing and the secondary flow strength along the duct.