Forced convection in a composite parallel plate channel: modeling the effect of interface roughness and turbulence utilizing a k–ε model

In this paper, a composite parallel plate channel whose central part is occupied by a clear fluid and whose peripheral part is occupied by a fluid-saturated porous medium is considered. The modeling is based on the assumption that the flow in the clear fluid region is turbulent while in the porous region the flow remains laminar. The turbulent and laminar flow solutions are matched at the porous/fluid interface, which is assumed rough. Two different models are utilized for calculating turbulent viscosity in the clear fluid region, the algebraic Cebeci–Smith model and a k–ε model. Numerical results obtained utilizing both models are compared and analyzed in detail.