Measurement of local heat/mass transfer coefficients on a dimple using naphthalene sublimation

Local and average heat/mass transfer characteristics on a single dimple were investigated using a naphthalene sublimation technique. The dimple depth in this study ranged from 20% to 40% of the channel height. The experimental conditions covered the range from laminar to low-velocity turbulent flow regimes, 500 ⩽ ReH ⩽ 5000. Secondary flows from the dimple were clearly observed in the transient flow regime of ReH = 2000–3000. The velocity fluctuation in the mixing layer over the dimple increased with the dimple depth and the Reynolds number. The impingement of the mixing layer and the induced secondary flows augmented the Sherwood number around the rear rim of the dimple and in the rear plateau region, respectively. For a Reynolds number of 3000, the Sherwood number increased significantly due to the increased fluctuation in the mixing layer and the intensified secondary flows from the dimple. The heat/mass transfer augmentation factors increased as the Reynolds number increased, reaching 1.5 at a Reynolds number of 5000.