Transient mixed convective heat transfer predictions around three heated cylinders in a horizontal channel

Purpose - To investigate the effect of transient mixed convective flow interaction between circular cylinders and channel walls on heat transfer with three circular cylinders arranged in an isosceles right-angled triangle within a horizontal channel. Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses a semi-implicit finite element method to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation, energy equation and continuity equation in primitive-variable form by assuming the flow to be two-dimensional and laminar. Findings - Provides information indicating that the transient streamlines, isotherms, drag coefficient and time-mean Nusselt number around the surfaces of three cylinders are affected by various gap-to-diameter ratio, Reynolds numbers and Grashof numbers. The results show that the maximum value of surface- and time-mean Nusselt number along cylinders exists at S=0.75. Research limitations/ implications - It is limited to two-dimensional laminar flow for the transient mixed convective flow interaction between circular cylinders and channel walls in a horizontal channel. Practical implications - A very useful source of information and favorable advice for people is applied to heat exchangers, space heating, power generators and other thermal apparatus. Originality/value - The results of this study may be of interest to engineers attempting to develop thermal control of thermal apparatus and to researchers interested in the flow-modification aspects of mixed convection between circular cylinders and channel walls in a horizontal channel.