Analysis of Laminar Forced Convection of Air Crossflow in In-Line Tube Banks with NonSquare Arrangements

ABSTRACT

Numerical analysis is made of forced-convection heat transfer in laminar two-dimensional steady crossflow in banks of plain tubes in square and nonsquare in-line arrangements. A finite-volume method with a nonorthogonal, boundary-fitted grid and co-located variable storage is used to solve the Navier–Stokes equations and energy conservation equation for a tube bundle with five longitudinal rows, including inlet and outlet sections. Local and overall heat transfer and fluid flow results are presented at combinations of transverse and longitudinal pitch-to-diameter ratios of 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0 at Reynolds numbers of 100 and 300 for a Prandtl number of 0.71. A comparison of the present study results with well-established experiments and empirical correlations showed good overall agreement. New equations are proposed for a correction factor for the effects of nonsquare arrangements on average friction factor.

Support for this project from the University of Manitoba and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is gratefully acknowledged.