Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software for CFD and heat transfer calculations in minichannels

Abstract

The paper focuses on CFD modelling and numerical simulation of heat transfer during fluid flow in minichannels. The data from the experiment were adopted into Simcenter Star-CCM+ software. The test section comprised seven or twenty-one parallel minichannels of rectangular cross sections. Each minichannel was 1 mm height. During the experimental series, the temperature measurements of the heated wall were recorded due to an infrared camera. Measurement data was compared with the results obtained from numerical calculations. Fluorinert FC-72 was used as a working fluid in experiments and simulations. An increase in the values of the heat transfer coefficient was observed for the test section with 21 minichannels compared to that with seven minichannels. Numerical simulations helped to identify how the change in the number of minichannels affects the intensification of heat transfer during flow without the timeand cost-consuming experimental tests