Zigzag Channel with Flow Pulsation, Paper Numerical Validation, CFD Training

Comprehension of CFD Simulation of Water Flow in a Zigzag Channel

Project Description

Based on the paper "CFD Simulations of Flow and Heat Transfer in a Zigzag Channel with Flow Pulsation," ANSYS Fluent is used in this simulation to model the flow of water through a zigzag canal.  These findings are confirmed by comparison with this reference article.

Model Design

Angled at 15 degrees, the channel is made up of 10 horizontal oscillation stages.  While intake temperature remains constant at 293.15 K, water flow changes with Reynolds number.  The channel is 1 mm deep and 8 mm wide with a 3D pattern.  Including boundary layer mesh on the walls, ANSYS Meshing offers an unstructured mesh of 144,713 components.

Methodology

Low Reynolds numbers (53 to 534) suggest laminar flow.  Simulations seek to explore the Nusselt number close to the upper wall, which has a steady temperature of 276.65 K.

Results and Conclusion

The study determines the Nusselt number for several Reynolds numbers by comparing them to reference data.  Results verify the temperature-dependent link of the Nusselt number, which changes with velocity and Reynolds value.

Key Reynolds number results:

• Re 53: Nu = 5.5198
• Re 107: Nu = 6.6144
• Re 534: Nu = 11.1337

For Reynolds numbers 53, 266, and 534, three-dimensional velocity, pressure, and temperature contours are examined.