Experimental Investigation of Flow Characteristics in a Square Duct With Delta-Wing Vortex Generators

The influence of delta wing vortex generators on the wall of square duct and the pressure loss penalty has been experimentally investigated in this study. The combined effects of geometrical parameters of delta wing vortex generators on friction factor ratios are reported for the Reynolds number based on the duct hydraulic diameter in the range of 8000–24000. The geometrical parameters of vortex generators systematically varied in this study are the pitch to vortex generator height ratio (p/e), vortex generator height to duct hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D_h), aspect ratio of vortex generator (ar). Results are reported for 0.1 ≤ e/Dh ≤ 0.5, 1.6 ≤ p/e ≤ 16, 1.6 ≤ ar ≤ 14.9, in duct having aspect ratio AR = 1. The experimental results of the present study for friction factor in smooth square duct agree well with values estimated from correlations proposed by Blasius.