Minichannel and minigap classification criteria based on the aspect ratio of the minigeometry: A numerical study

Abstract

A detailed numerical investigation has been carried out to analyze the diabatic flow distribution and velocity profile in 18 minigeometries with various aspect ratios for V-type and I-type flow configurations (for 36 cases) assuming ethanol as a working fluid. The aim of the study is to distinguish the value of the aspect ratio for which the flow in minigeometry starts to be two-dimensional (minigap). Cases with a constant Reynolds number of 4167 (variable mass flow rate) were compared. The normalized velocity profiles over the normalized width of the minigeometry acquired from the simulation have been compared with the theoretically calculated profiles based on the one-seventh power-law and turbulent flow theory. The results show that the one-seventh power-law velocity profiles are not consistent with the profiles simulated at an aspect ratio greater than 7. A new correlation for normalized velocity profile incorporating aspect ratio of the minigeometry for minigaps has been proposed. The conclusions are independent of the geometry depth, working fluid, and flow configuration. © 2021