EFFECTS OF INTRINSIC 3 DIMENSIONALITY ON HEAT-TRANSFER AND FRICTION LOSS IN A PERIODIC ARRAY OF PARALLEL PLATES

Effects of intrinsic three dimensionality on predicting heat transfer and friction loss in a periodic array of parallel plates have been ana lyzed extensively. The current study shows that at high Reynolds numbe rs, two-dimensional simulations significantly overpredict the heat tra nsfer and other rms quantities. Though only a small difference in over all friction loss was observed between the two-dimensional and three-d imensional simulations, the two components of the friction loss-form d rag and skin friction-have been significantly overpredicted and underp redicted, respectively, in the two-dimensional simulations. These diff erences have been identified as the result of different flow character istics: the strong coherent spanwise vortices in two-dimensional simul ations and the weakening of spanwise vortices due to the presence of s treamwise vortices in corresponding three-dimensional simulations.