Simulation of Turbulent Mixed Convection Heat Transfer LBE Liquid Metal Using Turbulence Models and Comparison with DNS Results

Authors

1 Mech. Eng, Dep. University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

2 Mech. Eng. Dep., University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

Abstract

In this study, the behavior of turbulent flow and heat transfer in a vertical channel was investigated under buoyancy effects and for different Richardson numbers (Ri = 0.25, 0.5, and 1). The results showed that as the Richardson number increases, the influence of buoyancy forces on flow patterns and thermal fields becomes more pronounced. At Ri = 0.25, the flow velocity increased on the co-flow side and decreased on the counter-flow side; under these conditions, the SST k-ω and BSL k-ω models showed the closest agreement with DNS data. With an increase to Ri = 0.5, the SST k-ω, BSL k-ω, and Re-Enhanced k-ε models exhibited good accuracy near the hot wall, while only the SST k-ω model could reproduce the DNS behavior near the cold wall. At Ri = 1, the SST k-ω and Re-Enhanced k-ε models provided the best reproduction of DNS results, whereas the BSL k-ω model, despite some relative discrepancies, captured the overall velocity trends. Analysis of the results indicated that the SST k-ω model becomes increasingly accurate with higher Richardson numbers and provides the best agreement with reference data. Finally, the performance analysis of the GEKO model indicated that tuning the CNW parameter significantly improves prediction accuracy; specifically, reducing CNW to -2 near the hot wall and increasing it to +2.5 near the cold wall enhanced the results, in some cases bringing them even closer to DNS data than other models.

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Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Volume 16, Issue 4
September and October 2026
Pages 379-398

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