EFFECT OF ASPECT RATIO ON CONVECTION ENHANCEMENT IN WAVY CHANNELS

Pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics are investigated in the fully developed region of three-dimensional wavy channels whose aspect ratios (width over height) range from one to infinity. Numerical simulations show that Nusselt numbers and friction factors increase with decreasing aspect ratios, in such a way that global performances improve. In all the channels considered, friction factors always increase with the Reynolds number, while Nusselt numbers significantly increase only above the critical value of the Reynolds number at which self-sustained flow oscillations begin. In turn, the critical value of the Reynolds number decreases with the aspect ratio, down to a minimum that is reached asymptotically.