Heat transfer enhancement in a grooved channel with curved vanes

We visualize unsteady temperature fields in the grooved channel with curved vanes using holographic interferometry. The heat transfer performance of the investigated channel is compared with that of the basic grooved channel. The addition of curved vanes above the downstream end of the heated block redirects the flow from the main channel into the groove. Heat transfer shows an increase by a factor of 1.5–3.5, when compared to the basic grooved channel, mainly due to increased flow velocities in the groove region. Flow transition from steady to oscillatory occurs around Re=450 and flow oscillations contribute to heat transfer enhancement. The pressure drop is 3–5 times higher than in the basic grooved channel.