On the Influence of Tube Row Number for Mixed Convection Around Microtubes

Abstract

A numerical simulation was performed on the heat transfer of mixed convection for fluid flowing across a micro-tube bundle by using Lattice Boltzmann Method. Firstly, the program code was validated by using a bench mark case of natural convection around a hot single tube inside a square enclosure. The local and averaged heat transfer coefficient of each tube in the bundle with various row numbers was calculated. Numerous cases have been simulated from a weak natural convection case (forced convection) to a pure natural convection case. The results indicate that the total averaged Nusselt number outside the tubes gradually decreases and becomes almost a constant with tube row number at low Reynolds number, which is different from the case of conventional scaled tube. The averaged Nusselt numbers and temperature fields for various situations were compared. The other influencing factors except of the tube row number on the heat transfer behavior of a tube bundle were also summarized and discussed.