Experimental and numerical investigation of convection heat transfer in channels with different types of ribs

Convection heat transfer in a channel with 90° ribs and V-shaped ribs were studied experimentally and numerically. The results showed that both the 90° ribs and V-shaped ribs enhance the convection heat transfer compared with a flat wall without ribs, but the pressure drop also increases. The overall thermal/hydraulic performance of the V-shaped ribs is better than that of the 90° ribs. Numerical simulations using the SST k-ω turbulence model were used to investigate the thermal/hydraulic performance for six rib bed, the results indicated that the 45° V-shaped continuous ribs had the best thermal/hydraulic performance. Comparison of continuous ribs and interrupted ribs shows that the heat transfer with the V-shaped interrupted ribs is less than with the V-shaped continuous ribs, but this is reversed for the 90° ribs.

► Heat transfer with V-shaped rib bed plates and 90° rib bed plates were investigated experimentally and numerically.
► The results indicate that the 45° V-shaped continuous ribs have the best thermal/hydraulic performance.
► Heat transfer with V-shaped interrupted ribs is less than with V-shaped continuous ribs, but reversed for 90° ribs.