Numerical Solution of the Flow of Air Inside a Circular Duct Encountering Series of Vertically Hanging Heated Circular Baffled Discs Provided at Different Angles

Efficient vortex generators are the key for heat transfer augmentation. In the present work, a novel approach of generating vortex in the proximity of the heat transfer surface is examined using CFD analysis. This novel approach combines the vortex generator and heat transfer component of heat transfer augmentation. The fluid flow in a circular duct around a series of heated circular baffled discs is considered for this. The CFD analysis is carried out in Ansys Fluent by varying Reynolds number (Re) for a particular heat flux and for different angles of discs as 15˚, 30˚, 45˚, 60˚ and 75˚. Present work includes thermo-hydraulic analysis by calculating temperature difference, pressure drop and Nusselt number (Nu), for different flow configurations. It is observed that the pressure drop increases with the increase in the angle of the discs from 15˚ to 75˚. Thermal analysis through the trend of Nu v/s Re is carried out and the heat transfer performance is compared with Dittus-Boelter correlation.