Convective heat transfer around a triangular cylinder in an air cross flow

Two dimensional laminar forced convection heat transfer around horizontal triangular cylinder in air is investigated numerically. Equilateral triangular cylinder of different side dimensions and configurations are examined under laminar conditions (Re ≤ 200). Two configurations of the triangular cylinders are considered; one when the vertex of the triangle facing the flow and the other when the base of the triangle facing the flow. The computational procedure is based on the finite volume technique. Results are presented in the form of streamline and temperature contour plots around the circumference of the cylinder. Comprehensive discussion is also reported about the development of wakes at the rear of the cylinder for both configurations. Critical Reynolds number for both vertex facing and base facing flow are obtained as 38.03 and 34.7 respectively. Furthermore, heat transfer data are generated and presented in terms of the average Nusselt numbers versus the Reynolds numbers. The drag coefficient is also presented versus Reynolds number and validated by comparison with the available data in the literature. General correlations of Nusselt numbers are obtained for Re ≤ 200 to cover the two investigated triangular configurations. A general correlation for each configuration is obtained and compared with the previous available results.