Unsteady Isothermal Flow Through a Staggered Tube Bundle Array

Two-dimensional Unsteady simulations of isothermal flow through a staggered tube bundle array at three different Reynolds numbers 54, 72, and 90 were investigated. The Navier-Stokes equations are numerically solved. Based on the CFD simulation results, the unsteady flow patterns were developed behind the rear row of the array, while for the other rows, the steady separated and reattached flow behaviors were observed, small, short, and closed separation bubble behind the rods. At Reynolds Number of 54, the transient flow was perfectly periodic. The complicated patterns of unsteady flow could be observed at Reynolds numbers of 72 and 90. The shedding patterns of vortices from the last rods were different and no longer periodic as found at Reynolds number of 54. The degree of chaos is increased as Reynolds number progressed.