Numerical investigation on laminar flow through a channel with staggered square blocks

Flow over obstacles invites attention of the many researchers for the past two decades. Results of such research helps the industry in designing of components in electronic packaging, heat exchangers design and nuclear power plant cooling systems etc. In the present learning, it is proposed to numerically investigate the effect of the position of the blocks and effect of inertia force on the hydrodynamic properties of the flow over a two square blocks arranged in staggered manner in a confined rectangular channel. Previous studies reports the hydrodynamic properties using air as working fluid. In the present study water is used as working fluid since it has decent thermal properties compared to air. The Reynolds number (Re) considered for the present study is equal to 100 and the spacing between the center to center of the blocks (Lx/Ly ratio) is maintained as 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5. For different Re and Lx/Ly ratios, the velocity profiles at different locations of the channel are discussed in laminar region under unsteady flow condition. The blockage ratio (BR) considered for this study is 0.25 and two square blocks are considered for the study. For Re = 100, the effect of position of the blocks on the flow properties are discussed in detail to reveal a solution to the design of electronic components.