Numerical Investigation of Laminar Fluid Flow and Heat Transmission in a Filleted Grooved Channel

This study investigates the effect of introducing fillets at various sharp edges in a unidirectional flow to explore flow behavior and heat transmission. This study utilizes a finite volume approach with Ansys Fluent, a commercial package that employs the face meshing approach, to investigate the impact of fillets on fluid flow characteristics and heat transmission in a grooved channel. The validation of the numerical simulation solver involved a comparison with previous studies, and a grid-independence test was conducted to confirm the independence of the solution on mesh resolution. The results demonstrate that fillets effectively direct fluid flow toward the channel walls, reducing the downstream reversed flow zone caused by flow contraction. The research aims to thoroughly investigate the physics of flow and engineering parameters that are relevant. The introduction of fillets at sharp corners in the grooved channel enhances heat transfer efficiency by over 34%, benefiting from the increase in heat transmission. This study investigates the effect of fillet placement on the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop in grooved channels. Results show that introducing fillets in the outer corner of the groove yields a higher heat transfer coefficient than fillets in the inner corner. Moreover, while different fillet configurations do not significantly affect the pressure drop, it is approximately 60% lower compared to conventional grooved channels. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing grooved channel designs in various engineering applications, where heat transfer and pressure drop are important considerations.