Experiments study the turbulent heat transfer and friction for fully developed flow of air in a square channel with discrete rib turbulators. The discrete ribs are staggered on two opposite walls of the channel in alternate rows of three and two ribs. Nine rib configurations are examined: transverse ribs with an angle of attack (α) of 90 deg, discrete ribs with α = 90 deg, parallel arrays of discrete ribs with α = 45 deg and −45 deg on alternate rows, and parallel and crossed arrays of discrete ribs with α = 60, 45, and 30 deg. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio and the rib pitch-to-height ratio are 0.0625 and 10, respectively. The Reynolds number ranges from 10,000 to 80,000. Results show that the average Stanton number in the 90 deg discrete rib case is about 10 to 15 percent higher than that in the 90 deg transverse rib case. Turning the discrete ribs on the oppsite walls 60, 45, or 30 deg in the same direction with respect to the main flow increases the average Stanton number 10 to 20 percent over that in the 90 deg discrete rib case. Parallel oblique discrete ribs with α = 60, 45, and 30 deg have comparable performances and have higher overall heat transfer per unit pumping power than 90 deg discrete ribs. Crossed oblique discrete ribs perform poorly compared with 90 deg discrete ribs and are not recommended.

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Experiments have been conducted to study the turbulent heat transfer and friction for fully developed flow of air in a square channel in which two opposite walls are roughened with 90° full ribs, parallel and crossed full ribs with angles-of-attack (α) of 60° and 45°, 90° discrete ribs, and parallel and crossed discrete ribs with = 60°, 45°, and 30°. The discrete ribs are staggered in alternate rows of three and two ribs. Results are obtained for a rib height-to-channel hydraulic diameter ratio of 0.0625, a rib pitch-to-height ratio of 10, and Reynolds numbers between 10,000 and 80,000. Parallel angled discrete ribs are superior to 90° discrete ribs and parallel angled full ribs, and are recommended for internal cooling passages in gas turbine airfoils. For α = 60° and 45°, parallel discrete ribs have higher ribbed wall heat transfer, lower smooth wall heat transfer, and lower channel pressure drop than parallel full ribs. Parallel 60° discrete ribs have the highest ribbed wall heat transfer and parallel 30° discrete ribs cause the lowest pressure drop. The heat transfer and pressure drops in crossed angled full and discrete rib cases are all lower than those in the corresponding 90° and parallel angled rib cases. Crossed arrays of angled ribs have poor thermal performance and are not recommended.

Experiments have been conducted to study the turbulent heat transfer and friction for fully developed flow of air in a square channel in which two opposite walls are roughened with 90 deg full ribs, parallel and crossed full ribs with angles of attack (α) of 60 and 45 deg, 90 deg discrete ribs, and parallel and crossed discrete ribs with α = 60, 45, and 30 deg. The discrete ribs are staggered in alternate rows of three and two ribs. Results are obtained for a rib height-to-channel hydraulic diameter ratio of 0.0625, a rib pitch-to-height ratio of 10, and Reynolds numbers between 10,000 and 80,000. Parallel angled discrete ribs are superior to 90 deg discrete ribs and parallel angled full ribs, and are recommended for internal cooling passages in gas turbine airfoils. For α = 60 and 45 deg, parallel discrete ribs have higher ribbed wall heat transfer, lower smooth wall heat transfer, and lower channel pressure drop than parallel full ribs. Parallel 60 deg discrete ribs have the highest ribbed wall heat transfer and parallel 30 deg discrete ribs cause the lowest pressure drop. The heat transfer and pressure drops in crossed angled full and discrete rib cases are all lower than those in the corresponding 90 deg and parallel angled rib cases. Crossed arrays of angled ribs have poor thermal performance and are not recommended.