Prediction of heat transfer to supercritical fluids by the use of Algebraic Heat Flux Models

•The Algebraic Heat Flux Model is considered for modelling the turbulence heat flux.•A relation based on AHFM for determining Prtur is proposed.•Results are compared with heat transfer to supercritical fluids experimental data.

The paper discusses capabilities and limitations of Algebraic Heat Flux Models in predicting heat transfer to supercritical fluids. The model was implemented in a commercial code and used as a basis for obtaining an advanced definition of the turbulent Prandtl number and an improved estimate of the buoyancy production of turbulence kinetic energy. A comparison between the obtained results and experimental data available in literature is performed highlighting promising features, in particular when dealing with trans-pseudo-critical conditions. Experimental conditions using different fluids where analysed showing improvements with respect to two-equation turbulence models; a reference DNS calculation is considered as well for comparison. Calculated wall temperature values are in general well reproduced by the methodology and sensitivity analyses show that improvements may be obtained in future works by selecting case-specific AHFM parameters in association with different turbulence models.