Turbulent unsteady flow and heat transfer in channels with periodically mounted square bars

A numerical investigation was conducted to analyze the unsteady turbulent flowfield and heat transfer characteristics in a channel with streamwise periodically mounted square bars arranged side-by-side to the approaching flow. The transverse separation distance between the bars is varied, whereas the bar height to channel height (d/H) are 0.152 and 0.2, the Reynolds number Re based on channel height is 2×104 and the periodicity length is 2H. The channel walls are subjected to a constant wall temperature. The k–ε turbulence model was used in conjunction with the Reynolds-averaged momentum and energy equations for the simulations. A finite volume technique is applied with a fine grid and time resolution. Complex periodic vortex shedding develops in the channel due the interaction between the two streamwise periodically mounted square bars. Results show that the unsteady flow behavior, pressure drop and heat transfer are strongly dependent of the transverse separation distance of the bars.