Finite Analytic Solution of Convective Heat Transfer for Tube Arrays in Crossflow: Part I—Flow Field Analysis

Abstract

The convective motion in two types of tube array is solved numerically by the Finite Analytic Method. The Finite Analytic Method utilizes the local analytic solution of governing differential equations in obtaining its discretized algebraic representation. Both in-line tube arrays and staggered tube arrays with longitudinal and transverse pitches of 2 are studied. The geometries are expressed in boundary-fitted coordinates on which the Navier–Stokes equations and energy equation are solved. Solutions for Reynolds numbers of 40, 120, 400, and 800 are obtained. Differences in stream function, vorticity function, and location of separation and reattachment for flow past in-line tube arrays and staggered tube array are predicted and compared. The zone of separation for both arrays tends to increase with increasing Reynolds number. The predicted results on flow field and heat transfer are shown to agree with available experimental measurements.