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Fluid flow through curved ducts is essentially characterised by the secondary flow effects due to duct curvature and cross-sectional flow geometry. Such flows produce vortex structures making the fluid behaviour vastly different than those in straight ducts while intrinsically promoting forced convection through fluid mixing. Examining the unique features of secondary flow and wall heat transfer, this paper presents a numerical simulation on the fluid flow through curved elliptical ducts, including circular geometry. The study develops and validates a novel numerical model based on three-dimensional vortex structures (helicity) and a curvilinear mesh system to overcome previous modelling limitations. Considering several duct aspect ratios, flow rates and wall heat fluxes, computations are performed to obtain the flow patterns and thermal characteristics. Parametric influences on flow features and forced convection are described through physical interpretation. The onset of vortices due to secondary flow instability is carefully examined in relation to the duct aspect ratio and flow rate. Appraising their merits, two techniques are developed for accurate detection of secondary flow instability and integrated into the computational process, which was not previously feasible. An approach based on the Second Law irreversibility is evaluated for thermal optimisation of fluid flow through curved elliptical ducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a numerical investigation for examining the secondary vortex motion and associated heat transfer process in fluid flow through curved passages. Overcoming current modelling limitations, the study formulates an improved simulation model based on 3-dimensional vortex structures for describing secondary flow and its thermal characteristics. For developing laminar fluid flow through curved rectangular ducts, the analysis performs a detailed parametric study involving the contours of helicity and outer duct wall pressure gradient for a range of flow rates, duct aspect ratios, duct flow curvatures and external wall heat fluxes. The flow conditions leading to hydrodynamic instability and Dean vortex generation in curved passages are carefully analysed, identifying the flow and geometrical parametric influences. Active interaction of buoyancy force on fluid motion arising from wall heating is considered where aspects of boundary layer separation is used in recognising thermal enhancement due to secondary flow. The simulated results are validated with the available experimental data. Surpassing precision and reliability of current practise, the study develops two numerical approaches offering improved capabilities for capturing the onset of hydrodynamic instability and resulting Dean vortices. These techniques are compared and assessed for their merits of application in determining the onset of secondary flow hydrodynamic instability with and without external wall heating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A numerical analysis of heat transfer in a heated horizontal duct is carried out to study the effect of surface radiation from duct inner walls on mixed convection heat transfer. The duct is differentially heated, wherein the opposing vertical walls are maintained at two specified isothermal temperatures, while the horizontal walls are perfectly insulated. Air enters the heated duct in a hydrodynamically fully developed condition, and steadily flows under laminar conditions while undergoing thermal development within the heated duct. For a set of specified temperature differences across the isothermal vertical walls, the heat transfer rate to the airflow is evaluated, and the fluid flow patterns are obtained for a range of flow rates, duct aspect ratios, and wall emissivities. Critically examining the fluid flow patterns and the characteristics of the hot wall Nusselt number, the significance of wall radiation effects on mixed convection heat transfer is identified and analysed in this study. It is found that the interaction of surface radiation and mixed convection influences the transport phenomena within heated ducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical simulation is presented to describe the secondary flow characteristics in the flow through curved rectangular ducts that are heated on the outer (concave) wall. The buoyancy body forces due to external heating are incorporated in the formulation. The governing equations of momentum, mass continuity and energy of the flow are non-dimensionalised and transformed into vorticity-streamfunction. The equations are discretised using a finite volume method and the dynamical variables are defined on a staggered grid. The resulting penta-diagonal system of linear algebraic equations is solved using the Strongly-Implicit-Procedure. Numerical computations are performed for the flow through rectangular ducts of aspect ratios 1 to 8 and for the Dean number lying in the range 20 to 500. The external wall heat fluxes of 0 to 200 W·m−2 are considered. The computation accurately captures the influence of external heating on the secondary vortex motion and, predicts the occurrence of Dean vortices in non-isothermal flow through the curved ducts. With wall heating, the flow pattern rapidly deviate from the symmetrical vortex motion observed under isothermal conditions. The formation of Dean vortices still takes place in the flow although it is postponed to higher flow rates where the flow symmetry is gradually re-established. The number of Dean vortices formed in the flow is strongly influenced by the aspect ratio of ducts. Convective heat transfer is significantly enhanced by the secondary flow particularly when the Dean vortices emerge at the outer wall. The predicted characteristics of secondary flow and heat transfer conform to and agree well with the available experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The inherent nature concerning the intermittency of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can be overcome by the integration of efficient thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Current CSP plants employ molten salts as TES materials although metal hydrides (MH) have proven to be more efficient due to their increased operating temperatures. Nonetheless, the heat exchange between the MH bed and the heat transfer medium used to operate a heat engine is a critical factor in the overall efficiency of the TES system. In this work, a computational study is carried out to investigate the performance of a magnesium hydride TES packed bed using a multiphase (boiling) medium instead of single-phase heat absorption methods. The boiling heat transfer behaviour is simulated by using the Eulerian two-fluid framework. The simulations are conducted at a transient state using SST- k -ω Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations. It is observed that, unlike the single-phase heat collection method, the multiphase heat absorption method maintains a constant temperature in the heat transfer fluid throughout the reactor. Consequently, a higher temperature gradient is realised between the MH bed and heat transfer fluid (HTF), leading to improvements in the overall reaction rate of the hydrogenation process. • Performance enhancement of a magnesium hydride reactor due to multiphase heat absorption was studied. • Boiling heat transfer behaviour was simulated using Eulerian two-fluid framework. • The percentage of improvement in reactor performance was variable at different reacted fractions. • Dry out condition was critical in the reactor efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A numerical study was conducted to investigate the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of a square microchannel with four longitudinal internal fins. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed on the microchannel with variable fin height ratio in the presence of a hydrodynamically developed, thermally developing laminar flow. Constant heat flux boundary conditions were assumed on the external walls of the square microchannel. Results of the average local Nusselt number distribution along the channel length were obtained as a function of the fin height ratio. The analysis was carried out for different fin heights and flow parameters. Interesting observations that provide more physical insight on this passive enhancement technique, and the existence of an optimum fin height are brought out in the present study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]