On prediction of thermal-hydraulic characteristics of square-sectioned ribbed cooling ducts

This paper presents the results of an investigation oil prediction of local and mean thermal-hydraulic characteristics in rib-roughened ducts of squar e cross section. the Navier-Stokes and energy equations together with two l ow-Re k-epsilon turbulence models are solved numerically. The Reynolds turb ulent stress tensor is calculated by two methods, namely, an eddy viscosity model (EVM) and an explicit algebraic stress model (EASM). The pressure-ve locity coupling is handled by the SIMPLEC algorithm and calculations were c arried out on a collocated grid. The convection-diffusion terms were calcul ated using the hybrid scheme (the changes in the results obtained by, the o ther schemes, e.g., QUICK an Van Leer, were not significant). The considere d ribbed duct configuration is identical to that in an experimental study a nd comparisons between the predictions and experimental results are provide d. A discussion of the capabilities of the two methods (EVM and EASM) is pr esented.