Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Transition Area at the Heated Bottom-Wall of a Horizontal Rectangular Channel

This article represents a part of an ongoing work on the preparation of an experimental rectangular channel for the PIV and LIF measurements of vortex structures and temperature field in a non-isothermal water flow. The main aim of the current study is to develop a sufficiently accurate simplified numerical model of the real problem. The basic requirements for thermal properties of heated bottom-wall are specified. In the computational model, there are several simplifications such as 2D case and a constant temperature of a heated surface along the longitudinal coordinate. Results of the numerical simulation of the fluid flow and heat transfer are verified on the experimental data obtained in a laboratory channel with the same geometry and similar flow conditions. The presented results helped to define additional requirements on the design of a new experimental channel intended for investigation of the flow instabilities in a non-isothermal liquid flow.