Heat Transfer Enhancement in Narrow Channels Using Two and Three-Dimensional Mixing Devices

The localized enhancement of forced convection heat transfer in a rectangular duct with very small ratio of height to width (0.017) was experimentally explored. The heat transfer from a discrete square section of the wall was enhanced by raising the heat source off the wall in the form of a protrusion. Further enhancement was effected through the use of large-scale, three-dimensional roughness elements installed in the duct upstream of the discrete heat source. Transverse ribs installed on the wall opposite the heat source provided even greater heat transfer enhancement. Heat transfer and pressure drop measurements were obtained for heat source length-based Reynolds numbers of 2600 to 40,000 with a perfluorinated organic liquid coolant, FC-77, of Prandtl number 25.3. Selected experiments were also performed in water (Prandtl number 6.97) for Reynolds numbers between 1300 and 83,000, primarily to determine the role of Prandtl number on the heat transfer process. Experimental uncertainties were carefully minimized and rigorously estimated. The greatest enhancement in heat transfer relative to the flush heat source was obtained when the roughness elements were used in combination with a single on the opposite wall. A peak enhancement of 100 percent was obtained at a Reynolds number of 11,000, which corresponds to a transitional flow regime. Predictive correlations valid over a range of Prandtl numbers are proposed.