Instability and Heat Transfer in Grooved Channel Flow

Two-dimensional laminar e ow and heat transfer in a channel with periodic grooves simulating electronic components were computed by solving the Navier ‐ Stokes and energy equations using a high-order e nite difference scheme. High-order accuracy was obtained using compact-differencing for spatial derivatives. Beyond a critical Reynolds number, which varies signie cantly with wall geometry, the e ow develops and sustains large-amplitude, time-periodic, nonlinear oscillations similar to the instability of the embedded shear layer. These oscillations enhance the heat transfer rate between the heated walls and the cooling e uid. An optimal component spacing was found to exist where the e ow exhibits a substantial heat transfer enhancement with a proportionally small increase in the driving pressure drop.