Heat transfer characteristics in forced convection through a rectangular channel with 60° tilted staggered ribs

In this paper we present new experimental results of investigation on average heat transfer characteristics of a forced air-flow through a rectangular channel with the lower and upper surfaces roughened by ribs; data for a rectangular channel with flat surfaces are presented for comparison as well. The channel cross-section is 120 mm wide and 12 mm high; the channel is operated with the lower and upper walls kept at fixed temperature whereas the sides are adiabatic. The ribs have a square cross section and are mounted 60° parallel-tilted (the angle is respect to main stream) in astaggered arrangement. The tested configurations differ each other for the rib side dimension, namely, 2 or 4 mm, and for their pitch-to-side ratio equal to 10, 20 and 40. Upstream the test channel, there is an entry-section consisting of a 800 mm long, rectangular duct with the same transverse dimensions as the test section but with flat and adiabatic walls. Air flow rates have been varied in order to have Reynolds numbers, based on the duct hydraulic diameter, ranging between 700 and 7500. The average Nusselt numbers are evaluated on the basis of the air-flow bulk-temperature at entrance and exit from the heated zone, as well as of the surface temperature measured by eight T-type thermocouples plugged into the heated walls. The test section is also equipped with static pressure taps placed at the heated zone ends. Results show an increase of the average Nusselt number, calculated as the ratio Nu/Nu₀, for the all tested ribbed channels ranging between 1.0 and 5.0.