On the Validity of Boussinesq Approximation in Variable Property Turbulent Mixed Convection Channel Flows

作者:Bazdidi Tehrani Farzad*; Moghaddam Saied; Aghaamini Masoud
来源:Heat Transfer Engineering, 2018, 39(5): 473-491.
DOI:10.1080/01457632.2017.1312902

摘要

The present study investigates the effects of fluid thermo-physical property variations on fully developed turbulent mixed convection flow in vertical and horizontal parallel plate channels where walls are kept at different temperatures. The main attention is paid to the validity of the Boussinesq approximation when the temperature differences are enhanced. Reynolds number based on the channel half-width and friction velocity is assumed to be 150. The governing equations are solved utilizing the large eddy simulation and the low Mach number approach on a finite-volume basis. Dealing with the sub-grid scale stress tensor and the heat flux vector, the dynamic Smagorinsky model is used. All the numerical simulations are carried out by developing a solver in OpenFOAM. The present results display that an increase in the walls'temperature difference, applying the Boussinesq approximation and neglecting the dependency of thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity on temperature, can result in relatively large errors. Deviations of up to 33% and 45% in the prediction of friction coefficient and Nusselt number, respectively, are shown. This is true for both vertical and horizontal configurations.

  • 出版日期2018