AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–103

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Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences

Journal homepage: https://qjes.qu.edu.iq

The effect of ribs spacing on heat transfer in rectangular channels under the effect
of different types of heat flux in the Presence of a nanofluids

Haneen M. Al-Ali* and Naseer H. Hamza

Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Ad-Diwaniyah,58001, Iraq

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history: In this study, numerical computations of the influence of adding ribs in a rectangular channel on the forced
Received 2 March 2021 convection heat transfer and laminar fluid flow characteristics have been carried out. The analysis was
Received in revised form 21 April 2021 carried out by using the finite element method to solve the dimensionless governing equations for the two-
Accepted 22 May 2021 dimensional channel with 80 mm height and 2000 mm length at the Reynolds number of (10, 100, and 500),
rib height e=8mm with different aspect ratios (AR =2.5, 3.125, 3.75, 4.375, and 5). Also, the study compared
Keywords: two cases of investigations with and without nanofluid (Water/ TiO2) at the volume fractions of
Ribs nanoparticles of 0, 2 and 4%. The results concluded that, for certain arrangements, the use of extended
Aspect ratio surfaces within a rectangular channel can significantly enhance the rate of heat transfer and when the aspect
Heat transfer enhancement ratios decreases, the Nusselt number increased. However, the existence of ribs within channel in case of
Nusselt number constant heat flux can cause a significant improvement of heat transfer compared to that in the corresponding
Nanofluid channel under the variable heat flux.

© 2021 University of Al-Qadisiyah. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

The use of artificial roughness on a surface in the form of repeated ribs channel has taken the researcher’s attention lately [10-12]. On the other
is one of the passive ways to improve the rate of heat transfer. Heat transfer hand nanotechnology with dispersing solid particles in a base fluid has been
applications have recently become increasingly essential in industrial serving as coolants with a view to increases the thermal conductivity of
engineering fields as heat exchangers, power generation, chemical fluid [13, 14]. The thermal conductivity of Al2O3 and SiO2–water
processes, medical applications, air conditioning, electronic devices and nanofluids was measured by Salman et al. [15].The investigation results
solar collectors, etc. [1-4].In past studies, there were many geometric showed 22% enhancement of heat transfer when using nanofluids. On the
shapes of the ribs which have been studied [5-8]. Among these studies, other hand, many researchers have presented several reviews in order to
when using Reynolds number 31170 show the influence of the ribs to show improved viewpoints and states for improving equipment heat
improving the heat transfer rate about 213% compared with the smooth transfer [16-18]. Also, another researchers focused on using both method
surface by Al-taie et al. [9]. Also, the forced convection in the grooved of heat transfer (rough surfaces and nanofluids) [19].

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mech.post05@qu.edu.iq(Haneen M. Al-Ali)

https://doi.org/10.30772/qjes.v14i2.756
2411-7773/© 2021 University of Al-Qadisiyah. All rights reserved. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
96 HANEEN AL-ALI AND NASEER HAMZA/AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–0103

Nomenclature

Cp specific heat (J kg -1 K-1) Greek symbols

Dh hydraulic diameter of channel (mm)  thermal diffusivity (m2 s-1)
k thermal conductivity (W m-1 K-1) υ kinematics viscosity (m2 s-1)
H channel height (mm) solid volume fraction
φ
W channel width (mm)
L total length of the channel (mm) Ɵ dimensionless temperature
L1 inlet length of the channel (mm)
L2 test length of the channel (mm)
L3 outlet length of the channel (mm)
L dimensionless length, L=l/H
Nux local Nusselt number µ dynamic viscosity (kg m-1s-1)
ρ density (kg m-3)
Nu average Nusselt number ΔT Temperature difference

p pressure (kg m-1 s-2) Subscripts

h heat transfer coefficient (W m-2K-1) ave average
Pr Prandtl number a ambient
Re Reynolds number c cold, constant
T dimensional temperature f fluid (pure water)
u dimensional velocity component in x-direction (m s-1)
v dimensional velocity component in y-direction (m s-1)
U non-dimensional velocity component in X-direction AR Aspect ratio
V non-dimensional velocity component in Y-direction nf nanofluid
A Area (m2) s solid nanoparticles
x dimensional x-coordinate (mm)
y dimensional y-coordinate (mm)
X non-dimensional X-coordinates v variable
Y non-dimensional Y-coordinates i Inlet
e rib height (mm) o outlet
s rib land/length (mm)
P rib pitch (mm)
(P/e) Aspect ratio
ΔP pressure drop (kg m-1 s-2)
q heat flux (W m-2)

Andreozzi et al. [20] numerically investigated the enhancement of heat The findings showed that the truncated ribs with the same rib arrangement
transfer of nanofluid flow in a heated channel using various types of ribs. and width can exhibit better thermal behavior than the continuous ribs case,
liu et al. [21] performed an experimental and computational study of the with decreasing the pressure drop in microchannel. Also, a numerical study
thermal performance enhancement in a rectangular passage with perforated by Yadav and Bhagoria [25] found that the flow field, average Nusselt
ribs. They observed the local heat transfer enhanced due to perforated ribs number, and overall hydrothermal performance are all highly influenced by
around 12-24%, and the overall heat transfer increased by 4-8% when the relative roughness height.
compared with the normal ribs. In this study, the influence of change in aspect ratio of extended surfaces,
Chtourou et al. [22] numerically studied the influence of the obstacles on the volume percentage of nanoparticles and Reynolds number are
the thermal efficiency inside narrow channels of a plate heat exchangers. investigated on the behavior heat transfer and laminar flow in a 2-D
With a Reynolds number range 200-800, they investigated and analyzed the rectangular channel under two cases of applied heat flux, the first one
impact of the shapes and arrangements of the ribs on hydrothermal constant and in the second case is a variable. For the simulation, Reynolds
behavior. Compared to the smooth duct, the thermal performances are numbers 10, 100, and 500 were used, with nanoparticle concentrations of
enhanced. They found due to the presence of the obstacles; the heat transfer 0, 2, and 4%, respectively.Up to best knowledge of the authors, very few
rate improves from 1.44 to 2.6 times when compared to the smooth case. In previous studies discussed the effect of variable heat flux on the flow
the other study, the design of pin-fin heat sink was studied numerically and characteristics in ribbed channels. Also more attention was paid to
experimentally by Rezaee et al.[23] Different geometrical parameters of microchannels, while this study conducted to ordinary channel. In addition
pin-fin were tested in the heat sink. They concluded for all arrangements of to that the optimum value of the aspect ratios as well as the best scenario of
pin-fin heat sink that the overall hydrothermal performance significantly heat flux will be presented in current study using numerical approaches. As
increases compared with the smooth case. Wang et al.[24] numerically a result, more data is presented here with a presence of water–TiO2
studied the impact of truncated ribs on the heat transfer and laminar flow nanofluid as a coolant to show the heat transfer characteristics of the
characteristics in a ribbed microchannel. The effects of various geometrical extended surfaces with different values of aspect ratios.
parameters (rib width, rib arrangement, and truncation gap height) on
hydrothermal performance had been analyzed. 2. Problem description
 HANEEN AL-ALI, NASEER HAMZA /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–103 97

The two-dimensional ribbed channel with 10 periodic ribs along the lower Where the constants q0, and A will be chosen in such a way that the total
wall has been considered in this research as shown schematically in Fig. 1. heat flux in both cases (constant heat flux and variable heat flux) will be the
The total length and the height of the horizontal rectangular channel are set same. At the inlet section, different fluid velocities are set, and they vary to
to be L=2000 mm and H=80 mm, respectively. The bottom wall with the ensure laminar flow with Reynolds numbers of (10, 100, and 500) but the
length of inlet (L1=1260 mm) and the length of exit (L3=200 mm) are exits were set to pressure outlet. The inlet temperature is introduced
insulated, but the middle section with the length of (L2=540mm) is under Tc=290K. The thermophysical properties of base fluid and the TiO2
the effect of heat flux q. The test section has (ten) ribs with height of (e=8), nanoparticles are presented in Table 2.
and length of (s=10) for each rib and the space between them varies
according to aspect ratio AR. Table 1 explains all of the parameters and Table 2. Thermophysical properties of water and solid nanoparticles TiO2
measurements shown in Fig. 1 [26].
Material ρ (kg/m3) Cp (J/kg K) k(W/mk) μ (Pa s)

Pure water 997.1 4179 0.613 0.001

TiO2 4250 686.2 8.9538 ---

3. Mathematical model

In this study, the continuity, momentum, and energy equations of the

laminar and steady state forced convection of the Newtonian nanofluid in
Figure 1. Schematics diagram of rectangular channel. the channel can be written in dimensional form as follows[27]:

𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
Table 1. Dimensions of various geometric parameters + =0 (1)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
L L1 L2 L3 H Dh e s
Param P
(m (m (m (m (m (m (m (m
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 1 𝜕𝑝 𝜇𝑛𝑓 𝜕 2𝑢 𝜕 2𝑢
eter (mm) 𝑢 +𝑣 =− + ( + ) (2)
m) m) m) m) m) m) m) m) 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜕𝑥 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2

Value 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 1 𝜕𝑝 𝜇𝑛𝑓 𝜕 2𝑣 𝜕 2𝑣
20 12 54 20 20,25,30, 𝑢 +𝑣 =− + ( + ) (3)
dimen 80 78 8 10 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜕𝑦 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
00 60 0 0 35,40
sion
𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑇 𝜕 2𝑇 𝜕 2𝑇
𝑢 +𝑣 = 𝛼𝑛𝑓 ( 2 + 2 ) (4)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
The working fluid is water and nano-particles, they are added at volume
fraction φ= 0, 0.02, 0.04 to explore the effect of adding them with The following dimensionless parameters can be used to transform the above
interaction with different geometries which gives a chance to specify the governing equations into non-dimensional forms[28]:
best and optimum combination. The assumptions regarding the working
𝑥 𝑦 𝑢 𝑣 𝑃̅
fluid are as follows: 𝑥= ,𝑌 = ,𝑈 = ,𝑉 = ,𝑝 =
𝐷ℎ 𝐷ℎ 𝑢𝑖 𝑢𝑖 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝑢𝑖 2

• Incompressible and Newtonian, 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖 𝑢𝑖 × 𝐷ℎ 𝜈𝑓 𝑞 " 𝐷ℎ

• Single phase, 𝜃= , 𝑅𝑒 = , 𝑃𝑟 = , ∆𝑇 = (5)
∆𝑇 𝜈𝑓 𝛼𝑓 𝐾𝑓
• The co-existing with nano-particles is in thermal and hydraulic
equilibrium, For steady state and laminar flow, the dimensionless governing equations
• The physical properties are weak function of temperature and thus of continuity, momentum, and energy are expressed as follows: [29]:
approximately constant over the operating range of temperatures’ case
study. 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑉
+ =0 (6)
𝜕𝑋 𝜕𝑌
The applied heat flux is considered at two cases: 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑛𝑓 1 𝜕 2𝑈 𝜕 2𝑈
𝑈 +𝑉 =− + ( + ) (7)
𝜕𝑋 𝜕𝑌 𝜕𝑋 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜈𝑛𝑓 𝑅𝑒 𝜕𝑋 2 𝜕𝑌2
Case I: Constant heat flux
In this case the lower wall of channel is exposed to a uniform heat flux 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑛𝑓 1 𝜕 2𝑉 𝜕 2𝑉
𝑈 +𝑉 =− + ( + ) (8)
condition (qc =1000 W/m2) on the middle section (test section); while the 𝜕𝑋 𝜕𝑌 𝜕𝑌 𝜌𝑛𝑓 𝜈𝑛𝑓 𝑅𝑒 𝜕𝑋 2 𝜕𝑌2
upper and other remaining walls are insulated.
𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝜃 𝛼𝑛𝑓 1 𝜕 2𝜃 𝜕 2𝜃
𝑈 𝑉 = ( + ) (9)
𝜕𝑋 𝜕𝑌 𝛼𝑓 𝑅𝑒𝑃𝑟 𝜕𝑋 2 𝜕𝑌2
Case II: Variable heat flux
The lower wall of the test section in this case is subjected to a variable heat
The boundary conditions in dimensionless form are described as follows:
flux q(x), the heat flux various linearly according to the equation as:
U=1, V=0 and 𝜃 = 0 for X=0 and 0≤ Y ≤1 (10)
q(x)=q0+A.x
𝜕𝑈 𝜕𝜃
V=0 and = =0 for X=2.56 and 0≤ Y ≤1 (11)
𝜕𝑋 𝜕𝑋
98 HANEEN AL-ALI AND NASEER HAMZA/AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–0103

𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝜃 𝑘𝑓
V=0, U=0 and = 0 or =− for Y=0 and 0≤ X ≤ 2.56 (12)
𝜕𝑌 𝜕𝑌 𝑘𝑛𝑓
𝜕𝜃
V=0, U=0 and = 0 for Y=1 and 0≤ X ≤ 2.56 (13)
𝜕𝑌

Nanofluid properties of the nanofluid can be defined based on the properties

of the base fluid and nanoparticles[30]:

𝜌𝑛𝑓= (1 − ∅)𝜌𝑓 + ∅𝜌𝑠 (14)

(𝜌𝐶𝑝)𝑛𝑓 = (1 − ∅)(𝜌𝐶𝑝)𝑓 + ∅(𝜌𝐶𝑝)𝑠 (15)

𝜇𝑓
𝜇𝑛𝑓 = (16)
(1 − ∅)2.5

𝐾𝑛𝑓 (𝐾𝑠 + 2𝐾𝑓 ) − 2∅(𝐾𝑓 − 𝐾𝑠 )

=[ ] (17)
𝐾𝑓 (𝐾𝑆 + 2𝐾𝑓 ) + ∅(𝐾𝒇 − 𝐾𝑠 )

The following formulae are used to calculate the local and average Nusselt
number [31]:
(a)
"
ℎ(𝑥). 𝐷ℎ 𝑞 𝑘𝑓 × ∆𝑇
𝑁𝑢(𝑥) = , ℎ(𝑥) = ⟶ 𝑞" =
𝐾𝑓 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 𝐷ℎ

𝑞"
( ) . 𝐷ℎ 𝐷ℎ × 𝐾𝑓 × ∆𝑇 ∆𝑇
𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛
∴ 𝑁𝑢(𝑋) = = =
𝐾𝑓 𝐾𝑓 × (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 ) × 𝐷ℎ 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛

1
⟶ 𝑁𝑢(𝑋) = (18)
𝜃
1
1
𝑁𝑢𝑎𝑣𝑒 = ∫ 𝑁𝑢(𝑋)𝑑𝑋 (19)
𝐿
0

The following relationship can be used to calculate the pressure drop (P)
between the inlet and exit sections. [32]:

∆𝑃 = 𝑃̅𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑃̅𝑖𝑛 (20)

4. Numerical procedure (b)

Figure 2: Validation of present study with Behnampour et al [28].
In this study, to acquire the surface heat flux distribution of the test section (a)Local Nusselt number (b) Average Nusselt number
of cooling channel, a numerical procedure was executed using finite
element method. Therefore, the laminar two-dimensional Navier-Stokes 5.1. Gri dindependence test
equations for fluid flow and heat transfer analysis have been solved and
discretized numerically combined with the continuity equation and the A grid-independence test is performed to assess the effects of grid sizes on
energy equation with appropriate boundary conditions. The boundary the accuracy and validity of numerical findings.
conditions were illustrated in previous paragraph.

5. Validation of the numerical model

In order to check the validity and accuracy of procedure for this numerical
study. Current results have been validated by comparing them with a
previous study. Fig. 2 shows the validation of the present study with
Behnampour et al. [22]. Where it can be concluded from Fig. 2-(a) that the
values of the local Nusselt number for the current study correspond to the
values of the reference at Re=1 and φ=0.04, also Fig. 2-(b) indicates a good
matched in the findings for the average Nusselt number.

Figure 3. The distribution of triangular mesh

 HANEEN AL-ALI, NASEER HAMZA /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–103 99

To choose the suitable grid, the average Nusselt number along the lower
hot wall of channel for different mesh sizes is estimated. The grid-
independence study of the current numerical simulation is performed for
ribbed channel with case I (constant heat flux) which is AR=2.5, Re=10 and
φ=0.04. As can be shown in Table 3, the optimal mesh for ribbed channel
in terms of accuracy and solution time is the Normal grid of (35776). The
unstructured triangular meshes for rectangular ribbed channel which used
in the present study are shown in Fig. 3.

Table 3. The investigation of grid independency for AR= 2.5, Re=10, and
φ=0.04.
Deviation in
Type of Mesh No. of nodes Nu-ave Case I
percentage 100%
Coarser 12330 2.9969 ---
Coarse 23125 2.9889 0.26
Normal 35776 2.9879 0.033
Fine 63242 2.9862 0.056
Finer 142707 2.9857 0.016

6. Results and discussion

Figure 4 indicates the dimensionless isotherms diagrams along the

rectangular channel for two cases of heat flux in different aspect ratios with
Reynolds number of 500 and a volume fraction (φ) of 4%. As seen from the
isotherms lines shown in figures below, more changes are created in the
form of non-dimensional temperature contours as the AR ratio is increased,
due to more energy transferred across the boundaries. In all rib aspect ratios,
using high volume fraction of TiO2 nanoparticles causes improvement of
heat transfer since the improved thermal conductivity after addition of
nano-material to the base fluid and because of the role of solid particles in
transferring and conducting the heat energy. When a fluid with a certain
temperature comes into contact with rib-roughened hot channel surfaces,
the high surfaces temperature lowers, and heat transfer between the hot
surfaces and the flowing fluid occurs which increases the fluid temperature
by convection and by conduction at very close fluid layers touching the hot
ribbed surface. The heat transfer rate increases as the Reynolds number
decreases. The reason for this is because when Re is lower, the fluid stays
in touch with the hot surface for longer period of time, so absorbing more
heat as it passes through the boundary. Ribs along the test section of channel Case II
can generate turbulence and so function as mixer and lower the temperature Figure 4. Isotherms contours at Re=500 and φ=0.04 for case I (uniform
difference between the surface and the fluid, improving heat transmission. heat flux), and case II (variable heat flux).

Fig. 5 depicts the streamline contours for two heat flux scenarios using
Reynolds numbers of 500 and a volume fraction percentage of 4%. The
levels of dimensionless velocity for each rib aspect ratio have been
compared According to the diagrams below. As the spaces between
extended surfaces and Reynolds number increases, multiple circulations
occur in a single space, temperature distribution will be improved due to
continuous thermal boundary layer towards the channel centerline. The
changes in dimensionless velocity contours will be different in all of the
pitch-to-height ratios, and by increasing the rib pitch to higher values, the
fluid momentum depreciation in the indentation areas will be significant.
This means that changing aspect ratios causes changes in the flow's
hydrodynamic behavior.
100 HANEEN AL-ALI AND NASEER HAMZA/AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–0103

Figure 5. Streamlines contours at Re=500 and φ=0.04 for two cases of

heat flux.

Fig. 6 shows for case I the variation of average Nusselt number in the Figure 6. Average Nusselt number versus aspects ratios at different
aspects ratio for different Reynolds numbers and different volume fractions values of Reynolds No. and volume fractions (Case I).
of solid nanoparticles (0, 2, and 4%). The convection heat transfer for all
pitch ratios enhance with the rise of Reynolds number. Among the studied Fig. 7 demonstrates the local Nusselt number along the ribbed channel for
aspect ratios, AR =5 has the largest amount of average Nusselt number at case (1) for all spacing values with various values of Re and φ=0.04. The
Re = 10 and Re = 100, while at Re=500, the largest amount of average local Nusselt number is increased for all aspect ratios with increased values
Nusselt number is achieved at AR =3.75, while AR = 2.5 has the minimum of Reynolds number. Because of the low velocity at Re=10, the presence of
amount at all Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, Increasing the Reynolds ribs has no obvious effect on the fluid. In the next schematics, the
number also causes eddy flows, which improves the convection heat maximum changes in hydrothermal behavior occur when the fluid collides
transfer coefficient. As well as when compared behavior, it is observed that with the ribs. As a result, the local Nusselt number along the first ribs shows
nanofluid has a greater value of Nusselt number compared to pure water. the greatest changes. The first rib produces the most fluctuations at
This rise is due to the presence of nanoparticles which causes to increased Reynolds numbers of 100 and 500, due to the increased fluid velocity, but
thermal conductivity of ordinary fluid, also due to effect the Brownian the fluctuations decrease as the ribs progress.
motion of nanoparticles on the enhance the thermal conductivity of
nanofluid. Nusselt number improves as nanopartical concentration
increase.
 HANEEN AL-ALI, NASEER HAMZA /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–103 101

through the ribs, the thermal boundary layers are disturbed and altered,
resulting in an increase in heat transfer rate. At mentioned figure, when the
nanofluid reaches the left wall of the channel, a fluctuation in the local
Nusselt number can be seen in order to recirculate flow in the groove
between the ribs, since the graph below has seen a dramatic decrease in the
local Nu due to impinging the flow to the rib wall, demonstrating the effect
of ribbed channel on heat transfer.

Figure 7. Local Nusselt number in aspects ratio at different values of Re

for volume fraction φ=0.04 (CaseI).

Also in the second case, the variations of average Nusselt numbers with
aspect ratios at different Reynolds number and various fraction factors of
nanoparticles are presented in Fig. 8, with the decrease in rib pitch ratios,
the average Nu tends to decrease. It can also be seen in this graph that the
average Nu tends to rise with the increase in Re, especially when AR=3.75.
The flow becomes detached when the distance between two successive ribs
increased. Then, it is attached to the walls again. Thus, the rate of heat
transfer is increased. On the other hand, the Nusselt number increases with
the increasing of aspect ratio. This can be explained by the existence of a
ribs turbulator, which causes increase the surface area of channel and lead
to rapid mixing between the core and wall flow, leading to high gradients
of temperature, especially at lower pitch ratios. Nanofluids are another
factor that contributes into increasing the Nusselt number by increases the
thermal conductivity of fluid. The thermal behavior is reinforced by
increasing the nanoparticles concentration.
From the Fig. 9, it can be seen in case (2) that the local Nusselt numbers are
increased for all aspect ratios with increased values of Reynolds number,
and the values of local Nusselt number along channel in high Reynolds Figure 8. Average Nusselt number versus aspects ratios at different
number is larger than that at low Reynolds number. This is due to the rapid values of Reynolds No. and volume fractions (Case II).
rising of velocity at wider spaces between ribs. Ribs play a crucial role in
boosting local Nu, causing a significant rise in Nusselt number in the rib-
roughened channel surface. The fundamental reason for this rise is that fluid
layers between cold and hot places are better mixed. When fluid passes
102 HANEEN AL-ALI AND NASEER HAMZA/AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–0103

nanoparticle heat transfer mechanisms by increasing the volumetric percent

of suspended nanoparticles in the base fluid.

Table 4. Average Nusselt number of various values of AR under different

conditions.
Case of Re φ Aspect ratios (AR)
study
2.5 3.125 3.75 4.375 5

Nu-ave

Case I 10 0 2.49 2.51 2.55 2.58 2.62

0.02 2.61 2.64 2.68 2.71 2.74

0.04 2.73 2.76 2.80 2.83 2.87

100 0 5.22 5.22 5.22 5.24 5.30

0.02 5.44 5.44 5.52 5.50 5.56

0.04 5.74 5.74 5.78 5.76 5.82

500 0 9.64 9.70 9.78 9.71 9.72

0.02 10.04 10.12 10.27 10.20 10.21

0.04 10.60 10.68 10.76 10.69 10.70

Case II 10 0 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.14

0.02 1.14 1.15 1.17 1.18 1.19

0.04 1.19 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.25

100 0 2.33 2.33 2.36 2.36 2.38

0.02 2.44 2.44 2.49 2.48 2.50

0.04 2.56 2.56 2.60 2.60 2.62

500 0 4.35 4.40 4.50 4.49 4.50

0.02 4.57 4.62 4.73 4.72 4.73

0.04 4.79 4.84 4.95 4.94 4.95

7. Conclusions

The impacts of rib spacing on the laminar forced convection heat transfer
of (Water/ TiO2) nanofluid in a two-dimensional rectangular duct under
two situations of heat flux boundary condition were investigated in this
study using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The emphasis was given
on the heat transfer enhancement resulting from changing parameters
include different aspect ratios of ribs (P/e) changing from 2.5 to 5. The
influence of the abovementioned parameters on the average Nusselt number
for two cases of heat flux are presented and discussed. As a result, the
following findings have been achieved:
Figure 9. Local Nusselt number in aspects ratio at different values of Re
• The breakdown of the thermal boundary by ribs in a ribbed channel
for volume fraction φ=0.04 (Case II).
produces mixing enhancement, which results in a rise in the average
Nusselt number. Moreover, the average Nusselt number rises with the
Table 4 shows the average Nusselt number values for two cases and
increase in Reynolds number.
Reynolds numbers of 10, 100 and 500 with different volume fraction of
• The heat transfer process in the ribbed channel is affected by the spacing
nanoparticles. These values were calculated on the upper boundaries of the
between the extended surfaces. For certain extent, the heat transfer rate
hot ribbed wall, and based on the tabulated results below, the average
increases with the increase in rib pitch.
Nusselt number of Re = 10 and Re=100 for case I of heat flux and for all
• Reynolds number of 500 has the largest rate of heat transfer in all
percentages for nanoparticle has less changes than those of Re = 500, while
instances, whereas Reynolds number of 10 has the lowest rate of heat
all are better than the second case II. This is due to an increase in fluid
transmission, which affirms the direct proportional relationship between
velocity at higher Reynolds numbers, as well as the enhancement of
Nu and Re numbers.
 HANEEN AL-ALI, NASEER HAMZA /AL-QADISIYAH JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING SCIENCES 14 (2021) 095–103 103

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For this parameter, the case I show better results than case II, because
nanofluids, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 59(
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All authors contributed equally to the preparation of this article. [19] S. Kumar, A.D. Kothiyal, M.S. Bisht, A.J.C.S.i.T.E. Kumar, Numerical analysis
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Declaration of competing interest protrusion obstacles square mini channel, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering,
9(January 2017) (2017) 108-121.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
[20] A. Andreozzi, O. Manca, S. Nardini, D.J.A.T.E. Ricci, Forced convection
enhancement in channels with transversal ribs and nanofluids, Applied Thermal
Funding source Engineering, 98( 5 April 2016) (2016) 1044-1053.
This study didn’t receive any specific funds. [21] J. Liu, S. Hussain, W. Wang, G. Xie, B.J.I.C.i.H. Sundén, M. Transfer,
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