Effect of Baffle Configuration on Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of Jet Impingement System with Cross-Flow

Abstract

Use of baffles in jet impingement systems in presence of initial cross-flow disturbs boundary layer that results in rise in heat transfer. Two configurations of baffle assisted impingement systems were considered and a comparative study on heat transfer and pressure drop is carried out based on operating parameters such as baffle clearance, blow ratio and h/D ratio using commercially available CFD package. Numerical predictions showed that both heat transfer and pressure drop in segmented configuration were higher than louvered configuration for all blow ratio employed in this study. Parametric studies showed that, thermo-hydraulic performance parameter is higher only for louvered configurations at low blow ratio. When cross-flow velocity is comparable with jet velocity, segmented baffles resulted in relatively higher thermo?hydraulic performance because of its higher heat transfer rate relative to the incurring pressure drop. An increase in clearance proportionally increases performance parameter. However, as jet to plate distance increases, thermo hydraulic performance declines significantly.