Separation characteristics of fluid flow inside two parallel plates with wavy surface

Separation characteristics of fluid flow inside two parallel wavy plates for steady-laminar flow is investigated numerically in the present study. Governing equations are discretized using control volume based finite-volume method with collocated variable arrangement. SIMPLE algorithm is used and SIP solver is applied for solution of system of equations. Effect of surface waviness (defined by amplitude to average interwall spacing ratio, a/H) and aspect ratio (defined by wavelength to average interwall spacing ratio, w/H) on separation characteristics of fluid flow is presented. The present work has been carried out for surface waviness a/H = 0-0.3, aspect ratio w/H = 1.5-2.25. A critical Reynolds number (Re-c) is used to identify the appearance of first separation of fluid flow in the channel. Critical Reynolds (Re-c) number is calculated for wide range of surface waviness and aspect ratio. The structure of separation bubble depends strongly on waviness of the surface and aspect ratio for a particular Reynolds number and changes little with wave number (n). Finally pressure drop characteristics is presented in terms of average friction factor as a function of Reynolds number. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.