Effects of Flow-Induced Vibration on Forced Convection Heat Transfer From Three Tandem Cylinders at Different Spacing Ratios

This work numerically investigates the effect of FIV on the heat transfer performance of three heated tandem cylinders at different spacing ratios and reduced velocity. The simulation is performed at Reynolds number Re = 100, Prandtl number Pr = 0.7. The three elastically mounted heated cylinders are allowed to oscillate in the transverse direction with reduced velocity U_r = 2–20, mass ratio m* = 2, and zero damping coefficient for maximum oscillation. The spacing ratio between cylinders G* = 2 and 4 are considered to elucidate the effect of FIV on heat transfer in extended body regime (G* = 2) and reattachment regime (G* = 4). The effect of the spacing ratio on FIV and heat transfer is observed through flow structures and quantified through oscillation amplitude, shedding frequency, pressure coefficient, and Nusselt number. The flow around the cylinders and the associated heat transfer depend strongly on the spacing ratio. The present findings can be utilized to develop a strategy for reducing fouling and removing contaminants and wax in piggyback pipes used in nuclear power plants or offshore oil extraction.