An investigation of a mixed convection in a boolean OR shape channel moving with a reciprocating motion

Abstract

This study focuses on utilizing numerical calculation to investigate the heat transfer mechanisms in a shape reciprocating channel system comprised of a horizontal channel at the bottom and vertical channels on both left and right sides. The issue is considered one kind of moving boundary problems and the finite element and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) kinematic methods can be applied to this study. Due to the high temperature at the bottom surface of the horizontal channel and the direction of inlet cooling fluids in the same direction of the gravity, the heat transfer mechanisms induced by the mixed convection flow become extremely complex. The results show that thermal layers near the heat surface are disturbed drastically and the effect of reciprocating motion upon the heat transfer mechanisms strongly depends on a relationship between Reynolds and Grashof numbers. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.