Fluid flow and convective heat transfer in a rotating helical square duct

A numerical study is performed to examine the characteristics of fluid flow and convective heat transfer in a helical square duct rotating at a constant angular velocity about the center of curvature. Due to the combined effects of rotation (the Coriolis force), torsion and curvature (the centrifugal force), the flow behaviors become very complicated. A wide range of parameters is covered in this work. The variations of flow structure and temperature distribution with the force ratio F (the ratio of the Coriolis force to the centrifugal force) and the torsion are examined in details. The effects of rotation and torsion on the friction factor and Nusselt number are also studied at length. And also multiple solutions for a rotating toroidal square duct have been obtained. Certain hitherto unknown flow patterns are found. The present work shows both the nature of flow behaviors and the characteristics of heat transfer in a rotating helical square duct. (c) 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.