Opposing mixed convection heat transfer for turbulent single-phase flows

Motegi, Kosuke  ; Shibamoto, Yasuteru ; Hibiki, Takashi*; Tsukamoto, Naofumi*; Kaneko, Junichi*

Convection, wherein forced and natural convections are prominent, is known as mixed convection. Specifically, when a forced convection flow is downward, this flow is called opposing flow. Several heat transfer correlations have been reported related to single-phase opposing flow; however, these correlations are based on experiments conducted in various channel geometries, working fluids, and thermal flow parameter ranges. Because the definition of nondimensional parameters and their validated range confirmed by experiments differ for each correlation reported in previous studies, establishing a guideline for deciding which correlation should be selected based on its range of applicability and extrapolation performance is important. This study reviewed the existing heat transfer correlations for turbulent opposing-flow mixed convection and the single-phase heat transfer correlations implemented in the thermal-hydraulic system codes. Furthermore, we evaluated the predictive performance of each correlation by comparing them with the experimental data obtained under various experimental conditions. The Jackson and Fewster, Churchill, and Swanson and Catton correlations (Int. J Heat Mass Transf., 1987) can accurately predict all the experimental data. The effect of the difference in the thermal boundary conditions, i.e., uniform heat flux and uniform wall temperature, on the turbulent mixed-convection heat transfer coefficient is not substantial. We confirmed that heat transfer correlations using the hydraulic-equivalent diameter as a characteristic length can be used for predictions regardless of channel-geometry differences. Furthermore, correlations described based on nondimensional dominant parameters can be used for predictions regardless of the differences in working fluids.