Numerical investigation of laminar forced cenvection heat transfer in a curved square duct with longitudinal ribs mounted on the side walls

Three dimensional laminar forced convective flow and heat transfer in a 90-deg curved square duct having longitudinal ribs on the side walls are investigated under hydrodynamically fully developed and thermally developing flow conditions. Three dimensional continuity, momentum and energy equations are solved numerically using Fluent 6.3 package program. The effects of rib height and number of ribs on flow and heat transfer are investigated. Reynolds number is varied between 250 and 2200 for both smooth duct and ribbed duct. Fluid properties are taken as constant. It is seen that increasing the height and number of longitudinal ribs influences the heat transfer and momentum transfer. Average Nusselt number, average skin friction factor, local skin friction coefficient and minor loses coefficient are presented in terms of Reynolds number. Key Words : Laminar flow, curved square duct, forced convection, flow and heat transfer, fluent