Numerical heat transfer in a rectangular channel with mounted obstacles on upper and lower walls

A numerical investigation of convective heat transfer between a fluid and three physical obstacles (blocks) mounted on the lower wall (2 blocks) and on the upper wall (1 block) of a rectangular channel was conducted. Laminar flow of the fluid circulating through the channel was assumed. The effect of the Reynolds number, block spacing and dimensions and solid to fluid thermal conductivity ratio were studied. A uniform heat flux through the blocks was assumed. The results showed that transition from steady to unsteady flows occurred at lower values of the Reynolds number when an obstacle is placed on the upper wall of the channel. The isotherms around the blocks were presented and the heat transfer evaluated through the Nusselt number. As expected, the results obtained showed that as the value of the Reynolds number was increased, the heat removed from the obstacles increased sensibly with a maximum heat removal around the obstacle corners. Moreover, the temperature difference between the three obstacles decreased as the Reynolds number was increased. Some disagreement in the results was observed when compared with those reported in the literature.