Numerical study of turbulent flow in asymmetrically heated horizontal channel

Low Reynolds number turbulent flow of Helium in a horizontal channel subjected to asymmetric heating was studied using a low-Reynolds number turbulence model. The study was conducted for inlet Reynolds number ranging from 4000 to 10,000, non-dimensional wall heat flux ranging from 0.001 to 0.005, and ratio of top wall heat flux to bottom wall heat flux ranging from 0 to 1. The results from the study were used to obtain laminarization criterion as a function of inlet Reynolds number, non-dimensional wall heat flux, and ratio of top wall heat flux to bottom wall heat flux. The developed laminarization criteria which is based on the ratio of turbulence production to turbulence dissipation predicts a reduction in the Nusselt number as compared to the constant property turbulent flow results, ranging from as much as 45% reduction for inlet Reynolds number of 4000 to 22% reduction for inlet Reynolds number of 10,000.