Role of wall-mounted flexible flow modulator on thermo-hydraulic characteristics of pulsating channel flow

• Published in: Results in engineering Vol. 17; p. 100941
• Main Authors: Mahmood, Fahim Tanfeez, Das, Arpita, Smriti, Rabeya Bosry, Hakim, Md. Azizul, Saha, Sumon, Hasan, Mohammad Nasim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian framework; Flexible flow modulator; Fluid-structure interaction; Forced convection; Pulsating flow; Flexible flow modulator; Forced convection; Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian framework; Fluid-structure interaction; Pulsating flow
• ISSN: 2590-1230; 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2023.100941

The present study focuses on numerical analysis of thermo-hydraulic characteristics in a straight isothermally heated channel with a bottom wall-mounted flexible flow modulator under pulsating flow conditions. The fluid-structure interaction problem is formulated in Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian framework via finite element method for solving necessary governing equations. The pulsating characteristics of fluid flow are represented by Strouhal number (St) and amplitude of oscillation (A) and varied within the range of 0.05 ≤ St ≤ 0.40 and 0.15 ≤ A ≤ 0.50 respectively for a fixed Reynolds number. The length of the flexible modulator (Lf) has been varied within 0.4 ≤ Lf ≤ 1.0 to explore its effect on the overall performance of the system. The results have been evaluated in terms of vorticity and isotherm distributions, Nusselt number, and modulator tip displacement. Moreover, Power Spectrum Analysis aided by FFT has been conducted to interpret the oscillatory behavior of thermal frequency and modulator deflection. The study reveals that a pulsating frequency of St = 0.20 and a higher amplitude of the pulsating inflow offer the best thermal augmentation. Although the longest modulator offers higher heat transfer, an optimum length of Lf = 0.6 provides the best overall performance at minimum pressure loss. •Forced convection heat transfer in a 2D channel with the pulsating flow is studied.•Impact of flexible flow modulator on thermofluid characteristics has been explored.•Higher flow amplitude at optimum frequency offers best heat transfer performance.•Maximum thermal performance can be obtained at optimum modulator length.•FFT analysis reveals conformity among different frequencies and oscillation.