Influences of corrugation profiles on entropy generation, heat transfer, pressure drop, and performance in a wavy channel

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 116; pp. 278 - 291
• Main Authors: Akbarzadeh, M., Rashidi, S., Esfahani, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Corrugation; Entropy; Entropy generation; Finite volume method; Fluid flow; Heat exchangers; Heat transfer; Numerical analysis; Pressure drop; Reynolds number; Sinusoidal wall; Studies; Trapezoidal channels; Trapezoidal wall; Triangular wall; Walls; Wavy wall; Wavy wall; Trapezoidal wall; Performance; Triangular wall; Sinusoidal wall; Entropy generation
• ISSN: 1359-4311; 1873-5606
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.01.076

•The triangular channel provides the highest thermal entropy generation.•Among wavy channels, the trapezoidal channel has the highest pressure drop.•Among wavy channels, the triangular channel has the lowest Nusselt number.•Viscous entropy is mainly accumulated along the narrow section of the wavy channel.
A numerical simulation is performed on entropy generation and thermo-hydraulic performance of a wavy channel with three corrugation profiles. Sinusoidal, trapezoidal, and triangular shapes are considered as corrugation profiles for wavy walls of channel. The influences of these profiles and Reynolds numbers on entropy generation and thermo-hydraulic performance of a wavy channel are discussed in details. Moreover, the results of wavy channel are compared with straight one. Simulations are performed for the Reynolds numbers in the range of 400–1400. Governing equations are discretized by using a finite volume method (FVM) and SIMPLE algorithm. It was found that among wavy channels, the triangular channel provides the highest thermal entropy generation and follows by the sinusoidal and trapezoidal channels. There are 111%, 100%, and 116% decrements in thermal entropy generation for sinusoidal, trapezoidal, and triangular channels, respectively at Reynolds number between 400 and 1400. Finally, it is recommended to use a sinusoidal wall in a channel due to the high performance and low entropy generations.