Numerical Investigation of Flow and Thermal Fields in Heat Exchanger with Two Porous Vertical Baffles.

The turbulent airflow in a rectangular channel with two porous vertical baffles of 25%, 50%, and 75% porosity is investigated using the finite volume method and Fluent software. The k-ε turbulence model analyzes turbulence dynamics, adjusting boundary conditions for varying inlet velocities. Key parameters, including turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), dynamic pressure (DP), temperature variation (T), friction coefficient (Cf), Nusselt number (Nu), and thermal enhancement factor (TEF) are evaluated at Reynolds numbers of 28,000 and 56,000. Findings indicate that at a Reynolds number of 28,000, the 25% porous ratio maximizes energy transfer, while the friction coefficient peaks at the same ratio for a Reynolds number of 56,000. Notably, the TEF reaches 1.4 at a 75% porous ratio for a Reynolds number of 28,000. This research uniquely demonstrates the pronounced impact of porous baffles on heat transfer and friction under different Reynolds numbers, particularly highlighting the significance of baffle porosity in lower Reynolds number regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]