Author(s)

O. Zeitoun, M. E. Ali & A. Nuhait

Abstract

Laminar forced convection heat transfer around horizontal triangular cross section ducts in air is investigated numerically. Equilateral triangle ducts of different cross section dimensions are investigated. The ducts are positioned such that the vertex of the triangle is facing the flow. The computational procedure is based on the finite element technique. Results are presented in the form of streamlines and temperature contour plots around the circumference of the ducts. Heat transfer data are generated and presented in terms of the average Nusselt number versus the Reynolds number, and the drag coefficient is also presented versus the Reynolds number and validated by comparing with that of a circular cylinder in cross flow. General correlations of Nusselt numbers in terms of wide ranges of the Reynolds number are obtained. Comprehensive discussion is also reported about the development of wakes downstream at the rear of the ducts. Keywords: forced convection, heat transfer, laminar heat transfer, horizontal non-circular duct, triangular duct. 1 Introduction Triangular ducts in cross flow have many engineering applications in the cooling of electronic components and heat exchangers. A survey of the literature shows that correlations for the overall averaged Nusselt numbers for forced convection heat transfer from circular and non-circular cylinders have been reported by different authors. Churchill and Bernstein [1] have reported a single comprehensive equation that cover the entire range of Reynolds numbers for a circular cylinder in cross flow for a wide range of Prandtl numbers as follows:

Keywords

forced convection, heat transfer, laminar heat transfer, horizontal non-circular duct, triangular duct