Numerical study of turbulent flow through rib-roughened channels with mist injection

This study investigated heat transfer characteristics on various shaped ribs on the lower channel wall using steam and steam/mist as cooling fluid. The lower wall is subjected to a uniform heat flux condition while others walls are insulated. Calculations are carried out for ribs with square ribs (case A), triangular ribs (case B), trapezoidal ribs (case C) and (case D) cross sections over a range of Reynolds numbers (14000-35000), constant mist mass fraction (6%) and fixed rib height and pitch. To investigate turbulence model effects, computations based on a finite volume method, are carried out by utilizing three turbulence models: the standard k-omega, Omega Reynolds Stress (omega DRS) and Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence models. The predicted results from using several turbulence models reveal that the SST turbulence model provide better agreement with available measurements than others. It is found that the heat transfer coefficients are enhanced in ribbed channels with injection of a small amount of mist. The steam/mist provides the higher heat transfer enhancement over steam when trapezoidal shaped ribs (38 degrees, case C).