Numerical Study of Convective Heat/Mass Transfer in Flow over a Stack of Planks, Effect of Side Gaps

Heat/mass transfer characteristics between surfaces of boards and air flow over a sample stack of planks during kiln drying are studied numerically. The sample stack set up is used for commercial drying of 105 × 105 mm western hemlock lumber. The main aim has been to investigate the effect of side gaps between the boards on heat/mass transfer characteristics at different Re numbers and to find the optimum side gap. The simulations performed using the low Re k-ε turbulence model and bounded QUICK scheme. The optimum side gap is suggested and justified for different flow velocities (Re numbers) after observing the results for different parameters. Similarities between heat transfer coefficients at different Re numbers and gap sizes were studied too.