A Computational Study of Enhanced Heat Transfer in Laminar Flows of Non-Newtonian Fluids in Corrugated-Plate Channels

Abstract

The enhanced heat transfer behavior of laminar shear-thinning, power-law fluid flows in sinusoidal corrugated-plate channels is investigated. With duct plates at uniform wall temperature, periodically developed flows are considered for a wide range of channel corrugation aspect ratio (0 ≤ γ ≤ 1), flow rates (10 ≤ Reg ≤ 1500), and pseudo-plastic flow behavior indices (n = 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0). Typical velocity and temperature distributions, along with extended results for isothermal friction factor f and Collburn factor j are presented. The enhanced forced convection is found to be strongly influenced by γ, and the flow field displays two distinct regimes: undisturbed laminar or no swirl, and swirl flow regimes. In the no-swirl regime, behavior similar to that in fully developed straight duct flows with no cross-stream disturbance is obtained. The shear-thinning nature of the fluid, however, decreases f and enhances j. In the swirl regime, flow separation and reattachment in the corrugation troughs generates transverse vortices that grow with Reg and γ. The transition to this regime is also seen to depend on Reg, γ, and n, and in shear-thinning flows, it occurs at a lower Reg. The combined effects of corrugated plate geometry and non-Newtonian fluid rheology produce a heat transfer enhancement, as measured by the factor j/f, of over 3.3 times that in a flat-plate channel depending upon γ, n, and Reg.