Three dimensional numerical modelling of staggered tube bundle turbulent crossflow in duct

A numerical study has been conducted to investigate the three dimensional (3D) staggered tube bundle turbulent cross flow confined between two parallel flat plates using RNG k-epsilon model and standard wall function utilizing commercial code FLUENT. The maximum Reynolds numbers of 1000, 5000, and 50000 and the distance between plates of H=3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm have been considered. The arrangement of the staggered tube bundle is fix with geometrical characteristics of Sn/D=1.5 and Sp/D=1.2 which has been found optimum in previous two-dimensional studies. The constant temperature of 360K on tubes, constant inlet flow and plates' temperature of 300K have been set as the boundary conditions. The global Nusselt number, friction factor for the dissimilar Reynolds numbers, distance between plates, local Nusselt number and different angles on first and third tubes have been evaluated.