Heat transfer in a duct is augmented remarkably by rib turbulators. However, increasing friction loss is accompanied due to ribs disturbing flows. Hence, pressure drops and heat transfer are considered simultaneously to decide heat/mass transfer perfo...
Heat transfer in a duct is augmented remarkably by rib turbulators. However, increasing friction loss is accompanied due to ribs disturbing flows. Hence, pressure drops and heat transfer are considered simultaneously to decide heat/mass transfer performance in a rib-roughened duct. In the present study, the effects of rib cross section shape on pressure drop through a duct are investigated as well as those on heat transfer characteristics. The results show that the characteristics of heat/mass transfer and friction loss in the duct roughened with triangular ribs are similar to those with square ribs, while significantly different from those with semicircular ribs. The best performance in the duct is obtained by using semicircular shaped ribs among three types of ribs for the large rib angles of ${\alpha}{\geq}63^{\circ}$.