Numerical Investigation of the Effect of a Modified Corrugated Longitudinal Vortex Generator on the Hydraulic-Thermal Performance of a Minichannel

Pourgholam Leylakoohi, Younes; Mohaddes Deylami, Hamed

doi:10.47176/MAJ.2026.1544

Numerical Investigation of the Effect of a Modified Corrugated Longitudinal Vortex Generator on the Hydraulic-Thermal Performance of a Minichannel

Document Type : Propulsion and Heat Transfer

Authors

Younes Pourgholam Leylakoohi ¹

Hamed Mohaddes Deylami ²

¹ PhD Student, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

² Associate Professor, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

10.47176/MAJ.2026.1544

Abstract

One of the key issues in various industries, such as aerospace, is the enhancement of cooling rates in internal flows. The use of vortex generators is a common method for improving heat transfer. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of sharp edges on corrugated longitudinal vortex generators in two configurations of Common Flow Up (CFU) and Common Flow Down (CFD). This research numerically simulates heat transfer inside a mini-channel. The working fluid is pure water with constant properties throughout the simulation. The energy, momentum, and continuity equations for an incompressible fluid are solved in a steady-state, three-dimensional, turbulent flow regime. The numerical simulations are performed using the COMSOL Multiphysics software based on the finite element method. The results of velocity distribution, static and local temperature in the minichannel, as well as comparisons of the Nusselt number and friction factor, are presented. The results indicate that the modified corrugated vortex generator increases the friction factor by up to 130% compared to a minichannel without a vortex generator. Furthermore, the overall Nusselt number increases by 37% in the CFD configuration and by 40% in the CFU configuration. Comparison of the modified corrugated vortex generator with the conventional corrugated vortex generator shows that, due to the enhanced vortex strength (up to 5%) , the thermal performance factor of the mini-channel is improved.

Graphical Abstract

Numerical Investigation of the Effect of a Modified Corrugated Longitudinal Vortex Generator on the Hydraulic-Thermal Performance of a Minichannel

Keywords

Longitudinal Corrugated Vortex Generator

Heat Transfer Enhancement In Minichannel

Numerical Simulation

Turbulent Flow

Subjects

Propulsion and heat transfer

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