Numerical Simulation of Convective Heat Transfer in Annular Gap between Rotating Inner Cylinder and Concentric Fixed Outer Cylinder

In the present study,the convective heat transfer characteristic of air gap between rotating inner cylinder and concentric fixed outer cylinder has been simulated using commercial Computation Fluid Dynamic(CFD) software.Distributions of velocity field,temperature field and heat flux have been analyzed at different Taylor number.Comparing with the Nusselt number calculated by empirical formula,the average relative error of the averaged Nusselt number calculated by CFD simulation is at a reasonable scope,which validates the effectiveness of numerical simulation.Results show that,due to the existence of Taylor vortexes,distributions of velocity field,temperature field and heat flux fluctuate periodically along axial direction,and the frequency of the fluctuation correspond with the number of vortexes in the fluid field.Fluctuation of velocity and temperature has same change trend,while the trend of heat flux is opposite.Averaged Nusselt number enlarges with the increase of Taylor number,and the larger Nusselt number is,the better convective heat transfer performance is.Additionally,the convective heat transfer characteristic of air gap with slots has also been simulated,and reasons why Taylor-Couette Flow can enhance heat and mass transfer have been analyzed.