Heat transfer modelling in a rotating cavity using the SST k-ω turbulence model

Abstract

Heat transfer simulation in a cylindrical cavity rotating around its axis and limited by two metal discs were presented. The object of the calculations was to compare the shear stress transport k-ω (SST k-ω) turbulence model with the renormalization group k-ε and k-ω turbulence models. The calculation results were compared with the results of experiments described in literature. Values of the Nusselt number for the cavity walls were compared depending on three dimensionless numbers used to describe heat transfer in a cavity: the Grashof number Gr and the Reynolds numbers Re_z and Re_Φ. Flow structures in a rotating cavity were compared for selected thermal and flow conditions. The computations were performed using the ANSYS CFX 14 commercial code.