Vortex Heat Transfer Enhancement in Narrow Channel by Oval Dimples Arrangement

There are many passive techniques of heat transfer enhancement ranging from surface (2D) to volumetric (3D) vortex generators, however only a few of them are capable to provide a reliable increase in a heat transfer rate overrunning the increase in pressure losses. One of such successful techniques is the profiling of a heat transfer surface with the regulated arrangement of 3D cavities (dimples). The authors explored that the deviation of the dimple geometry from the spherical shape affects the flow structure and thermal and hydraulic performance of the dimpled wall. Detailed numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer has been performed in the narrow channel with the 2.5 × 0.33 cross section normalized by the equivalent diameter of the dimple footprint at the constant Reynolds number Re = 10,000 and the constant heat flux through the dimpled wall. The oval dimple geometry was varied by changing the aspect ratio of the dimple footprint from 1 to 4.5 keeping the same footprint area. In the course of the numerical study, the optimal geometry, the arrangement and the orientation of oval dimples on the heated surface to achieve the superior thermal and hydraulic performance over the spherical cavities are established. Numerical results of local and integral heat transfer characteristics enhanced with the visual representation of the generated vortices clearly illustrated the flow restructuring and an increase in the thermal and hydraulic performance.