Numerical analysis of the natural convective heat transfer from horizontal surfaces containing trapezoidal waves with variable height

• Grant number: 19/16137-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: October 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Santiago del Rio Oliveira
• Grantee: Nickolas Castro Bernardini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project consists of a numerical analysis of the natural convective heat transfer from a horizontal surface containing a wavy surface on one side. The wavy surface considered in this project have a trapezoidal shape with variable height, having the effect of increasing the heat transfer rate from the heated surface to an adjacent fluid, in this case, ambient air. The main objective of this project is to determine the natural convective heat transfer rate between the wavy horizontal surface and the ambient air. Effects on the natural convective heat transfer rate from the surface containing trapezoidal waves will be analyzed as a function of the following variables: number of waves, profile of wavy heights, ratio between the largest base and smallest base of the waves and the Rayleigh number. Results will be obtained numerically using the standard k-epsilon turbulence model including effects of buoyant forces with the aid of OpenFOAM software. Depending on the results obtained, recommendations may be made such as the number of waves, the profile of wavy heights and the ratio of the largest base to the smallest base of the waves that provide the greatest improvement in natural convective heat transfer rate from the heated horizontal surface. (AU)