FINITE-ELEMENT SIMULATION OF TRANSIENT LAMINAR-FLOW AND HEAT-TRANSFERPAST AN IN-LINE TUBE BANK

Finite element simulation of transient laminar flow past an in-line tu be bank is carried out using a velocity correction procedure. The two- dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes and energy equations are solved usi ng an explicit and a semi-implicit algorithm for a Reynolds number of 100, a Prandtl number of 0.7, and pitch-to-diameter ratios (PDR) of 1. 5 and 2.0. The Galerkin weighted residual formulation is used for the discretization in space. Numerical flow visuals are drawn, showing the time evolution of streamlines. Local and average Nusselt numbers, pre ssure, and shear stress distributions around the cylinders have also b een determined. The results compare well with existing numerical simul ations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.