Numerical investigation of mixed convection heat transfer past an in-line bundle of cylinders

Two dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes and the energy equations are solved using finite element method for the case of flow past five row deep in-line bundle of circular cylinders with pitch to diameter ratios (PDR) of 1.5 and 2.0. Numerical solutions of governing equations have been obtained using Euler's explicit algorithm. Analysis have been made for Reynolds number of 100 and Prandtl number of 0.71. The effect of Richardson number (Ri = Gr/Re2) on the flow and heat transfer have been investigated for Ri = -1.0, -0.5, 0.0, + 0.5 and +1.0. Streamlines, isovorticity lines, pressure and temperature contours, local and average Nusselt numbers, pressure and shear stress distribution around the cylinders are presented. Results obtained for forced convection (Ri = 0.0) agree well with the available experimental and numerical results. There is considerable effect of buoyancy over tube bundles both in buoyancy aiding and opposing flows.