Local Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics Over Cylinder in the Presence of Vortex Generator Acting as Flow Guides

The present study is a numerical investigation on the thermal and flow characteristics of flow over cylinders in the presence of vortex generators acting also as flow guides. This is proposed as a method to enhance the heat transfer from the Li-ion battery by air cooling in electric vehicle battery arrangement. The flow guides placed upstream of the cylinder divert some mainstream flow towards the cylinder surface and therefore enhance the heat transfer from the cylinder. The location, angle of attack and number of diverters are varied. The results are presented in terms of local Nusselt number along the circumference of the cylinder, and it is found that vortex generators increase the rate of heat transfer for all configurations. It is also observed that placing a vortex generator only on one side of the cylinder is more effective than placing vortex generators on both sides. The heat transfer characteristics are explained with aid of flow behaviour observed.