Augmentation of Heat Transfer in a Circular Channel with Inline and Staggered Baffles

Muneerah Al Nuwairan and Basma Souayeh
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Muneerah Al Nuwairan: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Basma Souayeh: Department of Physics, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: This numerical investigation presents the effects of the position of baffles in the shape of a circle’s segment placed inside a circular channel to improve the thermal and flow performance of a solar air heater. Three different baffles’ positions with Reynolds number varying between 10,000 to 50,000 were investigated computationally. The k-omega SST model was used for solving the governing equations. Air was taken as the working fluid. Three pitch ratios (Y = 3, 4, and 5) were considered, while the height of the baffles remained fixed. The result showed an enhancement in Nusselt number, friction factor, j-factor, and thermal performance factor. Staggered exit-length baffles showed maximum enhancement in heat transfer and pressure drop, while inline inlet-length baffles showed the least enhancement. For a pitch ratio of Y = 3.0, the enhancement in all parameters was the highest, while for Y = 5.0, the enhancement in all parameters was the least. The highest thermal performance factor of 1.6 was found for SEL at Y = 3.0.

Keywords: heat transfer; CFD; baffles; staggered; j-factor; thermal performance factor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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