Heat Transfer Enhancement in Channel Flow by a Streamwise-Periodic Array of Rotating Circular Cylinders

In this study, we consider the heat transfer characteristics of channel flow in the presence of an infinite streamwise array of equispaced identical rotating circular cylinders. This flow configuration can be regarded as a model representing a micro channel or an internal heat exchanger with cylindrical vortex generators. A numerical parametric study has been carried out by varying Reynolds number based on the bulk mean velocity and the cylinder diameter, and the gap between the cylinders and the channel wall for some selected angular speeds. The presence of the rotating circular cylinders arranged periodically in the streamwise direction causes a significant topological change of the flow, leading to heat transfer enhancement on the channel walls. More quantitative results as well as qualitative physical explanations are presented to justify the effectiveness of varying the gap to enhance heat transfer from the channel walls