Reduced-order turbulent flow solver to simulate streamwise periodic fins with iso-thermal walls

TL;DR

This paper introduces a streamwise-periodic turbulent flow solver integrated into SU2, enabling efficient simulation of heat exchanger geometries with repeating fins by reducing computational costs while maintaining accuracy.

Contribution

The paper develops and implements a novel streamwise-periodic turbulent flow model for channels with isothermal walls within an open-source CFD framework, validated against full fin array simulations.

Findings

The solver accurately predicts flow in both laminar and turbulent regimes.

It reproduces full array simulation results with high fidelity.

The approach significantly reduces computational costs for heat exchanger analysis.

Abstract

Assessment of the thermo-hydraulic performance of heat exchangers using computational fluid dynamics is a challenging task. The intricate geometries of a heat exchanger require a fine discretization of the flow passage, which consequently leads to high computational costs. A streamwise periodic flow model can significantly reduce this cost, particularly for heat exchangers featuring repeating structures. This manuscript presents the streamwise-periodic turbulent source terms for flows in channels with isothermal walls, along with the implementation of the corresponding periodic flow solver in the open-source CFD-Suite, SU2. The accuracy of the implemented solver was verified by comparing its predictions against those of a full fin array simulation for the test case of offset circular fins. The results show that the streamwise periodic flow solver accurately reproduces the solutions of the full array simulation under both laminar and turbulent flow conditions.