COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF TURBULENT FLUID FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER OVER AN ARRAY OF HEATED MODULES USING TURBULENCE MODELS

Abstract

A computational analysis is carried out using the standard k - l model and two low Reynolds number turbulence models as applied to developing turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer in a channel with surface-mounted heat-generating modules. The channel is assumed to be formed between two adjacent circuit boards with surface-mounted heat-generating modules mounted on a single side of each board. A detailed discussion of the computational model and the solution algorithm is given. Numerical experimentation is carried out with respect to mesh size and other mesh parameters. Calculation is performed for a Reynolds number range 2,000-7,000, and a Prandtl number of 0.7. The predictions of both pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient over the modules are compared with selected experimental data. The comparison showed that the low Reynolds number model based on Jones and Launder gives good predictions in a Reynolds number range of 2,000-5,000. At higher Reynolds numbers such as at Re=7,000, the standard k - l results in better predictions.