Effects of Free Stream Velocity on Turbulent Natural Convection Flow Over a Vertical Forward-Facing Step

Abstract

Measurements of heat transfer and fluid flow of turbulent boundary-layer air flow in natural and mixed convection over an isothermal two-dimensional, vertical forward-facing step are reported. The upstream and downstream walls and the step itself were heated to a uniform and constant temperature. Air velocity and temperature distributions and their turbulent fluctuations are measured simultaneously using a two-component laser-Doppler velocimeter (LDV) and a cold wire anemometer, respectively. The present study treats buoyancy-dominated mixed convection over a vertical forward-facing step and examines the effect of a small free stream velocity on turbulent natural convection. The experiment was carried out for a step height of 22 mm, for a range of free stream air velocities 0 m/s ≤ u ∞ ≤ 0.55 m/s (corresponding to a range of Reynolds numbers of 0 ≤ Re s ≤ 712), and a temperature difference, ΔT, of 30°C between the heated walls and the free stream air (corresponding to a local Grashof number Gr xi = 6.45 × 10 10). It was found that the reattachment length increases while the heat transfer rate from the downstream heated wall decreases as the small free stream velocity increases.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0891-6152

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2004 Taylor & Francis, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2004

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS