Enhancing heat transfer in laminar channel flow by tuning the mass distribution of a flexible reed

Abstract

Recent studies have leveraged wall-mounted flexible reeds to augment heat transfer efficiency in channel flows. In this study, we demonstrate that tuning the reed's mass distribution can substantially elevate this heat transfer enhancement. Numerical simulations incorporating the fluid–structure–thermal interaction are performed to investigate the impact of mass distribution on the reed dynamics and the associated heat transfer augmentation. The results indicate that the mass distribution of the reed significantly affects its motion mode, which, in turn, critically modulates the heat transfer characteristics. The maximum thermal efficiency factor is obtained when the reed's mass is concentrated at its distal end. Furthermore, the enhancement effect of tuning reed's mass distribution on heat transfer efficiency is closely related to the bending stiffness γ. Within the range of bending stiffness considered in this study (0.02–0.14), the effect of tuning the reed's mass distribution on the thermal efficiency factor exhibits a trend of increase–decrease–increase as the bending stiffness increases. At high bending stiffness, simply tuning the reed's mass distribution can increase the channel heat flux and reduce energy loss, thereby achieving the goal of enhancing the thermal efficiency factor. At γ = 0.14, allocating the reed's mass at its distal end resulted in a notable enhancement, with a thermal efficiency factor surge of 11.1%.