DNS of heat transfer increase in a cylinder stagnation region due to wake-induced turbulence

Heat transfer in the stagnation point area of a heated cylinder is investigated using Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). The heated cylinder is subjected to the turbulent wake of a smaller cylinder placed upstream. Two Reynolds numbers based on the diameter of the heated cylinder of 13,200 and 48,000 are chosen. In accordance with correlations in the literature, an increase in heat transfer compared to fully laminar flow is found for all angles along the front circumferential area of the heated cylinder. However, due to the presence of the wake, the maximum increase is shifted away from the centerline. The characteristic turbulence level and Nusselt number in the present study are an order of magnitude higher than those reported in previous simulations. The DNS results obtained, are in good agreement with an existing experimental correlation. Finally, relevant flow structures and instantaneous temperature fields are visualized.