Numerical study of influence of longitudinal vortex generator on flow and heat transfer in rectangular channel

Influence of Longitudinal Vortex Generator (LVG) on flow and heat transfer in rectangular channel is investigated by standardized k-ε two equation turbulent model with standardized wall function. Heat transfer augmentation mechanism of LVG is analyzed from the perspectives of vorticity and synergy principle. The results show that simulated results agree well with experimental correlation, which demonstrates the validity of numerical method adopted in current paper. Compared with smooth channel, the transverse flow is induced by LVG enormously, vorticity is increased by over 10³ times which leads to strong disturbance on flow; Moreover, analyzed by field synergy principle, the intersection angle between velocity and temperature gradient is smaller than that of smooth channel due to influence of LVG, which explains why heat transfer is augmented theoretically. Therefore, the temperature of plate fuel assembly can be decreased and the reactor core damage frequency will be decreased under accident.