Fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics over a superelliptic cylinder at incidence

• Published in: Powder technology 2020-01, Vol.360, p.193-208
• Main Authors: Zhang, N., Rong, L.W., Dong, K.J., Zeng, Q.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive mesh; Cadmium; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Cylinder; Cylinders; Drag coefficients; Drag force; Finite element method; Finite volume method; Flow separation; Fluid flow; Grid refinement (mathematics); Heat transfer; Incidence angle; Nusselt number; Reynolds number
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2019.09.076

This work presents a numerical study of the fluid flow over a superelliptic cylinder body by applying a finite volume method with an adaptive mesh refinement technique. The influence of the Reynolds number (Re), incidence angle (θ) and shape index (n) on the detailed kinetics of the flow and the macroscopic properties (drag coefficient Cd and surface mean Nusselt number Nu) have been examined over wide ranges of conditions as: 0.3≤Re≤200, 0°≤θ≤45° and 1/2≤n≤5. The critical Reynolds numbers, corresponding to the onset of flow separation and the onset of the laminar unsteady regime, have been identified. The results show that the characteristics of flow and heat transfer of the fluids are affected in an intricate manner by Re, θ and n. Based on the simulated results, new equations have been proposed to estimate the Cd and Nu. [Display omitted] •Momentum and heat transfer of a superelliptic cylinder in unconfined fluids are studied.•Adaptive mesh refinement technique is used to resolve flow structures around cylinders.•Effects of Reynolds number, shape parameter and incident angle are intricate.•Critical Reynolds number is sensitive to shape index for hypoelliptic cylinder.•Correlations are established to calculate Cd and Nu of a superelliptic cylinder.