https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01499-5
Regular Article
Heat transfer enhancement through a rectangular channel by DBD plasma actuators as vortex generators
1
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
2
Faculty of Technology and Engineering, East of Guilan, University of Guilan, Rudsar, Iran
Received:
1
February
2021
Accepted:
25
April
2021
Published online:
4
May
2021
This paper represents a three-dimensional numerical simulation to figure out the application of the DBD plasma actuators as an active vortex generator system to enhance heat transfer through a smooth rectangular channel. This system as an active flow control device consists of a pair of DBD plasma actuators, which have been implemented asymmetrically on the bottom wall by several angles of attack to induce the cross airflow. The investigation deals with the optimum angle of attack according to different Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 2300 to 3800 and alternating current voltages of 31–37 kV. The heat transfer rate, pressure drop, and overall performance have been assessed. The results show the optimum choice for the angles of attack was 30° among various flow conditions. By this design, at the voltage of 37 kV and Re of 2300, the average Nusselt number (Num) increased about 56% and heat transfer performance factor (
) increased about 111%. Furthermore, at the lowest applied voltage (31 kV) and highest Reynolds number (3800), the value of Num rises to 41% and 59%, respectively. Thereupon, as the next optimum choices, angle of attack of 45° at high Re and angle of attack of 15°at low Re enhanced heat transfer performance.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021
