Exergetic analysis for optimization of a rotating equilateral triangular cooling channel with staggered square ribs

Exergetic analysis was introduced in optimization of a rotating equilateral triangular internal cooling channel with staggered square ribs to maximize the net exergy gain. The objective function was defined as the net exergy gain considering the exergy gain by heat transfer and exergy losses by friction and heat transfer process. The flow field and heat transfer in the channel were analysed using three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations under the uniform temperature condition. Shear stress transport turbulence model has been selected as a turbulence closure through the turbulence model test. Computational results for the area-averaged Nusselt number were validated compared to the experimental data. Three design variables, i.e., the angle of rib, the rib pitch-to-hydraulic diameter ratio and the rib width-to-hydraulic diameter ratio, were selected for the optimization. The optimization was performed at Reynolds number, 20,000. Twenty-two design points were selected by Latin hypercube sampling, and the values of the objective function were evaluated by the RANS analysis at these points. Through optimization, the objective function value was improved by 22.6% compared to that of the reference geometry. Effects of the Reynolds number, rotation number, and buoyancy parameter on the heat transfer performance of the optimum design were also discussed. © 2016, Turbomachinery Society of Japan. All rights reserved.