Experimental study of heat transfer

enhancement in a rectangular duct

distributed by multi V-perforated baffle of
different relative baffle width

Raj Kumar, Anil Kumar, Ashutosh

Sharma, Ranchan Chauhan & Muneesh
Sethi

Heat and Mass Transfer

Wärme- und Stoffübertragung

ISSN 0947-7411

Heat Mass Transfer

DOI 10.1007/s00231-016-1901-7

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 Author's personal copy
Heat Mass Transfer
DOI 10.1007/s00231-016-1901-7

ORIGINAL

Experimental study of heat transfer enhancement in a

rectangular duct distributed by multi V‑perforated baffle
of different relative baffle width
Raj Kumar1 · Anil Kumar1 · Ashutosh Sharma1 · Ranchan Chauhan1 ·
Muneesh Sethi1 

Received: 19 February 2016 / Accepted: 19 August 2016

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

Abstract The current research deals with the experimen- HB Height of baffle (m)
tal investigation of the heat transfer behavior and optimum HB/HD Relative baffle height
relative width parameter of the multi V-down pattern perfo- Ka Thermal Conductivity of air (W/m K)
rated baffle rectangular duct. The 60° angled multi V-down Lt Length of test section (m)
perforated pattern baffle are attached on the lower duct wall Lv Length of V-pattern baffle (m)
having an aspect ratio (WD/HD) of 10.0 and a Reynolds ma Mass flow rate of air (kg/s)
number (Re) ranging from 4000 to 9000. The experiment Nu Nusselt number
was conducted by varying the relative baffle width (WD/WB) Nurs Nusselt number of rough surface
ranging from 1.0 to 6.0, relative baffle height (HB/HD) was Nuss Nusselt number of smooth surface
0.5, relative baffle pitch (PB/HB) was 10.0, relative hole OB Hole position from base of baffle (m)
position (OB/HB) was 0.44, open area ratio (βO) was 12 %. OB/HB Relative hole position
The experimental investigation shows that at a relative baf- PB Pitch of baffle duct (m)
fle width of 5.0 the thermal performance was maximized. PB/HB Relative pitch ratio
Thermo-hydraulic performance (ηp) comparison shows that (∆p)d Pressure drop across test section (Pa)
multi V-down pattern perforated baffle has better outcomes (∆p)o Pressure drop across orifice plate (Pa)
as compared to other baffles shaped rectangular duct. Qu Useful heat gain (W)
Re Reynolds number of fluid
List of symbols Tf Average temperature of air (K)
Ap Surface area of heated plate (m2) Ti Inlet temperature of air (K)
Ao Area of orifice (m2) To Outlet temperature of air (K)
Cdo Coefficient of discharge Tp Plate temperature of air (K)
Cp Specific heat of air (J/kg K) U Mean air velocity (m/s)
dh Hole diameter of perforated baffle (m) V Velocity of air (m/s)
Dhd Hydraulic diameter of duct (m) WD/HD Duct aspect ratio
f Friction factor WD Width of duct (m)
frs Friction factor of roughened baffle WB Width of a single V-perforated baffle (m)
fss Friction factor smooth baffle WD/WB Relative baffle width
ht Convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K) SAH Solar air heater
HD Height of duct (m)
Greek symbols
αa Angle of attack (°)
* Anil Kumar βO Open area ratio (%)
anil_aheciit@yahoo.com
βR Ratio of orifice meter to pipe diameter,
1
School of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, dimensionless
Shoolini University, Solan, India ρa Density of air (kg/m3)

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νa Kinematic viscosity of air (m2/s)
η Thermo-hydraulic performance
1 Introduction
The foremost purpose to design heat exchangers is to
save energy. The increasing use of energy with increasing
population, industrialization and urbanization demands
highly efficient heat exchangers [1]. Great efforts are made
to increase the heat transfer rate in heat exchange equip-
ment. In various industrial applications like different types
of heat exchangers, electronic cooling devices, solar air
heater etc., the need of high performance leads to discov-
ering heat transfer improving techniques in the system [2,
3]. Baffles in the rectangular duct are used to produce tur-
bulence, so as to increase the heat transfer rate. In order to
generate turbulence, baffles are placed into the forced flow
to produce a secondary stream. These are used to improve
the heat transfer rate in various engineering applications,
vortex combustors, including heat exchangers and stream
ducts. Baffles with different shapes are used, including
angled shaped, delta-shaped, winglets, rectangular-shaped
winglets, V-shaped, perforated, and multiple baffles that
can be attached and bent away from the heated wall to
produce turbulence in the stream field, which results in
improvement in heat transfer. Among the techniques used
to improve convective heat transfer in a smooth duct one is
to place multi V-shaped perforated baffles on the duct walls
[4–6]. For complete reports of several experimental and
mathematical studies on baffles with distinct shapes, size,
and orientations, readers may refer to Nasiruddin and Sid-
diqui [7] studied improved Nurs in a heat exchanger tube
by attaching a baffle into stream. They studied the effect of
baffle size and orientation on the Nurs and frs found that a
baffle inclined towards the downstream side with an incli-
nation angle 15° is a better choice for improved Nurs in a
heat exchanger tube, with the lowest frs.
Romdhane [8] examined that effect of Nurs in a baf-
fled solar air collector. The baffles were attached in the
solar air duct. Baffles extend the trajectory of the circula-
tion and keep the air in contact with the absorber and act
as wings and enhance Nurs of the air. Nie et al. [9] examine
the effects of baffle on Nurs from the mathematical simula-
tion on a baffled solar air duct. They reported that baffle
mounted onto the upper wall rises Nurs at the stepped wall
and with increase in baffle distance from the inlet, frs drops
at stepped wall. Promvonge et al. [10] mathematically
examined the performance of Nurs and frs in square duct
attached with 45° inclined baffles with a Re ranging from
100 to 1200. They observed the effects of HB/HD  = 0.1–
0.5, on Nurs and frs on 45° baffle and compared with trans-
verse baffle (90°). They informed that for the 45° baffle
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Heat Mass Transfer
with HB/HD = 0.4 and Re = 1200, Nurs is superior than that
of 90° baffle. Promovong [11] experimentally investigated
the turbulent forced convection Nurs and frs loss behavior
in a high WD/HD duct attached with 60° V-shaped baffles.
The effect of WD/HD = 10, HD = 30 mm, HB/HD = 0.10,
0.20 and 0.30, PB/HB  = 1, 2 and 3, Re varies from 5000
to 25,000 and transverse pitch equal to 2HD on the tur-
bulent forced convection Nurs and frs have been studied.
They stated that with the practice of V shaped baffle with
PB/HB = 1 and WD/HD = 10 and HB/HD = 0.10 gives the
highest thermal enhancement factor.
Tamna et al. [12] investigated the effect of multiple V baf-
fle vortex generators to augment Nurs in a duct fitted with 45°
BVG with Re ranging from 4000 to 21,000, HB/HD  = 0.25,
PB/HB  = 0.5, and αa equal to 45° respectively. They found
that the single baffle vortex generator at PB/HB  = 0.5 yields
higher thermal enhancement factor of about 1.83 at minimum
data of Re. Akpinar et al. [13] experimentally investigate the
performance analysis of four types of solar air heater with
different obstacles and without obstacle for ma of 0.0074 and
0.0052 kg/s and compared on the basis of first and second law
of efficiencies. They reported that efficiency of solar air heater
depends on the surface geometry of collectors, solar radiation
of air flow line. The collector efficiency improved with increas-
ing ma and decrease as the temperature parameters increased.
Bekele et al. [14] experimentally examined the presence of
delta shaped obstacles attached on one wall subjected to a kept
heat flux for a rectangular channel with an of 6:1. They studied
the effect of ranges from 2100 to 30000, relative obstacle height
from 0.25-0.75, relative obstacle longitudinal pitch from 3/2
-11/2, and angle of incidence from 30° to 90° on heat transfer
and pressure loss. Kang-Hoon Ko and Anand [15] experimen-
tally investigated Nurs and frs for uniformly heated rectangular
duct wall attached with porous baffles prepared of aluminum
foam. Baffles were attached on bottom and top walls in a stag-
gered fashion and Re varies from 20,000 to 50,000. Sara et al.
[16] studied the effect of perforated rectangular cross-sectional
block on Nurs over a smooth surface in a rectangular channel.
They reported that heat transfer is improved with the perforated
block and as the degree of perforation is increased the enhance-
ment is also increased. Dutta and Hossain [17] investigated the
Nurs and frs in a rectangular duct with inclined solid and perfo-
rated baffles. During experimentation they found that local Nurs
distribution significantly depends on the perforation, orienta-
tion, and position of the second baffle plate and Nurs was 5.0
times high as compared to flat duct.
Karwa et al. [18] experimentally studied the effect of
solid and perforated baffles with Re varies from 2850 to
11,500, WD/HD of 7.77, PB/HB of 29, HB/HD is 0.495. Based
on the experimental outcomes it was found that Nurs for the
solid baffle is 73.7–82.7 % more than that for flat surface
duct, whereas 60.6–62.9 to 45.0–49.7 % for perforated baf-
fles and drops with the rise in βO of these baffles (18.4 %
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Heat Mass Transfer
to 46.8 %). Lin [19] experimentally investigated the Nurs
and frs in rectangular duct with baffles. Author examined the
experimental outcomes of heat transfer for baffle designed
with various heights and pores. Karwa and Maheshwari [20]
experimentally study Nurs and frs in a rectangular duct with
transverse fully perforated baffles (βO of 46.8 %) and half
perforated baffles (βO about 26 %) fixed to one of the broad
wall. They considered the parameters namely PB/HB of 7.2–
28.8 and Re ranges from 2700 to 11,150. They reported that
for fully perforated baffle the enhancement in Nurs is 79–169
and 133–274 % in case of half perforated baffles. For fully
perforated baffle frs is 2.98–8.02 times in case of smooth duct
and is 4.42–17.5 times for the half perforated baffles.
Bayrak et al. [21] studied the performance valuation of
porous baffles introduced solar air heater by energy and
energy technique. They reported that the maximum col-
lector efficiency and air temperature increase are attained
by solar air heater with a thickness of 6 mm and ma of
0.025 kg/s while the lowermost data are obtained for the
SAH with non-baffle collectors with ma of 0.016 kg/s.
Alam et al. [22] experimentally investigated the effect of
HB/HD of 0.4–1.0, PB/HB of 4–12, βO of 5–25 %, αa of 60°
and Re varies from 2000 to 20,000 on V-shaped perforated
blocks rectangular duct with WD/HD of 10. They observed
that average enhancement in Nurs for perforated V-shaped
blockage is 33 % higher over solid blockages, frs of per-
forated blockage gets decreased by 32 % of the value as
compared to solid blockage. They reported that maximum
enhancement of Nurs occurs at βO of 20 %, HB/HD of 0.8,
and PB/HB of 8.0, while maximum frs is found correspond-
ing to βO of 5 %, HB/HD of 1.0, and PB/HB of 4.0. Molki
and Esfahanian [23] experimentally investigated Nurs and
frs of turbulent flow downstream of a wall attached with
solid or perforated baffle plate in a rectangular duct. The
experiment was conducted for Re ranges from 50,000 to
30,000, HB/HD of 0.5, and WD/HD of 5:1. It was observed
that under identical ma, the baffle plate improve Nurs, and
no improvement was observed for other conditions.
Won et al. [24] reported the effect of angled rib baffles
with a value of 45°, HB/HD of 0.078, PB/HB of 10, and βO
of 25 % for a Re range of 9000–76,000. Khanoknaiya-
karn [25] carried out an experiment to study Nurs and frs
by using V-pattern baffles on a broad heated surface of a
large WD/HD channel. The effects of the baffles on Nurs
and frs were investigated. Sriromreun et al. [26] reported
experimental predictions of the Nurs and frs for an air duct
with Z-shaped baffles. Their experiments were performed
by controlling the air flow rate to attain Re values in the
range of 4400–20,400. Bopche and Tandale [27] reported
the completely developed stream in a roughened duct with
U-shaped pattern baffles. Their experiments were per-
formed by controlling the airflow rate to obtain Re values in
the range of 3800–18,000. Skullong et al. [28] carried out
an experimental study on the turbulent flow and heat trans-
fer characteristics in a rectangular duct attached baffles
with combined groove baffles. Three different cases with
HB/HD  = 0.5–2.0 and PB/HB  = 0.25 were experimentally
studied. They showed that the baffle-grooved upper wall at
HB/HD = 0.5 yielded the highest overall performance.
Shin and Kwak [29] studied the effect of the perforation
shape for a blockage wall on the Nurs in a flow passage. Five
wide, narrow and circular hole geometries were tested. It was
observed that a blockage surface with wider perforation pro-
vided a more uniform local heat transfer and higher thermal
performance factor. Zhou and Ye [30] carried out the experi-
mental studied of the turbulent air stream and heat transfer
characteristics of rectangular duct with delta winglet vortex
generator baffles attached to the upper wall of a duct. They
compared these curved trapezoidal winglets to traditional vor-
tex generators with trapezoidal winglets, rectangular wing-
lets, and delta winglets using dimensionless factors. Bekele
et al. [31] carried out the experimental studied of the turbu-
lent air stream and heat transfer characteristics of rectangular
duct with delta shaped obstacle attached to the upper wall of
a duct. Chompookham et al. [32] experimentally studied the
effect of winglet vortex type generators on the Nurs and frs
behaviors for a turbulent stream. Abene et al. [33] experimen-
tally studied the heat transfer augmentation of several types of
baffles attached on the upper wall of a rectangular duct. They
establish that inserting the baffles into the stream could raise
the thermal performance by 0.39 times over smooth wall.
Ozgen et al. [34] reported the thermal performance in
a duct with baffles fitted to the heated wall. Their stud-
ies showed that the collector efficiency is increase by
increasing the air velocity and increasing the Nurs value
among the heated wall and the fluid. Thianpong et al. [35]
reported the experimental studies of the collector perfor-
mance of a rectangular duct with twisted rings type baf-
fles. Eiamsa-ard et al. [36] investigated the heat transfer
augmentation in a rectangular duct with winglet delta
twisted tape baffles with different βO and HB/HD. Their
studies shows that Nurs and frs values with winglet delta
twisted tape were better as compared to without winglet
delta twisted tape. Chamoli and Thakur [37] conducted an
indoor experimental investigation to study Nurs and frs val-
ues of air passing through an air duct that was roughened
by V-shaped perforated baffles.
Literature review shows that, the transverse baffles
shape improves the heat transfer by stream separation and
formation of vortices on the upstream and downstream of
baffles and reattachment of stream in inter-baffles spaces.
Angling of transverse baffles increases more heat transfer
on account the movement of vortices along the baffles sur-
face and creation of a secondary stream cell near the lead-
ing end, which outcomes in local wall turbulence. V-down
pattern baffles of an extended angled baffles benefits in the
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creation of two secondary stream cells as compared to one
in case of an angled baffles results in still higher heat trans-
fer rate. Producing a perforation in the inclined baffle is
found to augment the heat transfer by breaking the second-
ary stream and producing higher level of turbulence in the
fluid downstream of the baffles. The use of multi V-down
pattern baffles across the width of the plate is observed to
augment the heat transfer by increasing the number of sec-
ondary stream cells many times.
Recently, Alam et al. [22] and Chamoli and Thakur [37]
explored the effect of V-down perforated baffles on heat
transfer and fluid stream characteristics of rectangular duct.
They found that the higher heat transfer rate is attributed
to the interaction of secondary stream released through the
perforation in multi V-down pattern baffles with the main
stream. It is assumed that multi V-down pattern perforated
baffles will enhance heat transfer as compared to single
V-down perforated baffles and without perforated multi
V-down baffles. The purposes of this investigation is to
study the air flow and heat transfer characteristics of a rec-
tangular duct provided with roughness in the shape of multi
V-down pattern perforated baffles.
2 Experimental program
Experimental approach has been adopted to generate the
data in form of Nurs and frs for a rectangular duct with multi
perforated V-pattern baffle roughness to explore the effect
of WD/WB and Re on Nurs and frs. The experimental study
encompasses the fabrication and installation of indoor test
facility. The experimental setup has been validated by com-
paring experimental data collected on without baffle wall
Fig. 1  Schematic of experimental setup
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Heat Mass Transfer
with the available standard data. After validation of experi-
mental setup, extensive experimentations have been con-
ducted on multi perforated V-pattern baffle to produce raw
data on heated wall temperatures, air flow rates, and inlet
and outlet temperature of air and pressure drop across the
duct under stable state conditions.
2.1 Experimental setup and procedure
To examine the influence of perforation in the limbs of
multi V-pattern baffle turbulent promoter on Nurs and frs
of air stream, an experimental setup was designed and
fabricated. A schematic diagram of an experimental set up
and photographic view are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 respec-
tively. The setup comprised a rectangular wooden duct
connected to a centrifugal blower through a circular gal-
vanized iron (GI) pipe. The rectangular duct had WD of
300 mm, HD of 30 mm, and WD/HD of 10. It consisted
of inlet and exit sections that were interposed by test sec-
tions. The upper wall of the test section was an aluminum
heated plate that was heated by an electric heater which
provides a uniform heat flux over the whole top surface.
Air mass flow rate through the rectangular duct was meas-
ured with a calibrated orifice meter that was connected to
a U-tube manometer. Air flow was regulated with two gate
valves that were connected in the lines. The temperature
was measured at various locations with calibrated 0.3 mm
diameter Copper constantan thermocouples, which were
joined to a digital micro voltmeter (DMV) to display the
temperature. The pressure drop across the test section was
measured with a micro-manometer having least count of
0.001 mm of water. All data were measured under steady
state conditions.
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Heat Mass Transfer

4.1 Temperature measured

Weighted average plate air temperature:

The mean temperature of the plate is the average of all
temperatures of the heated plate:

Tpi
Tp = (1)
N
The mean air temperature is a simple arithmetic mean of
the inlet and outlet temperature of air flowing through the
test section:
Ti + T o
Tf = (2)
2
where To = (TA2 + TA3 + TA4 + TA5 + TA6 )/5, Ti = TA1.

4.2 Mass flow rate measurement

Mass flow rate of air has been calculated from the pressure
drop measurement across the calibrated orifice meter by
using the following formula:
2ρa (�p)0 0.5
 
ma = Cdo Ao (3)
1 − βR4

Fig. 2  Photographic view of experimental setup and multi V-perfo-

where (�p)0 = 9.81 · (�p)0 ρa ma · Sinθ.
rated baffle
4.3 Velocity of air through duct

3 Range of parameters The velocity of air is calculated from the mass flow rate
and given by
Rectangular duct has an Lt equal to 2000 mm while HD is set ma
equal to 30 mm and WD is 300 mm; the hydraulic diameter, V= (4)
ρa WD HD
Dhd = 4Ap/PB = 2HD is equal to 54.54 mm. The 4.0 mm thick
wall is made up by aluminium and a constant heat flux equal to 4.4 Equivalent hydraulic diameter
1000 w/m2 has been applied. The baffle parameters are deter-
mined by baffle height (HB), pitch of baffle (PB), hole diameter The hydraulic diameter is given by
of perforated baffle (hd), length of V-pattern baffle (Lv), angle 4 · (WD · HD )
of attack (αa), open area ratio, βO = n(π × d2h/4)/Lv × HB, and Dhd = (5)
2 · (WD + HD )
the shape of the roughness elements. For a specific roughness
type, a family of geometrically similar roughness is possible to 4.5 Reynolds number
recognize by changing relative baffles width (WD/WB) while
keeping HB/HD, PB/HB, OB/HB and β0 constant. The multi Re of the air flow in the rectangular duct is determined as
V-pattern baffle is shown in Fig. 3a. Variation of relative baffle
V · Dhd
width in a multi V-perforated baffle arrangement as shown in Re = (6)
ν
Fig. 3b. Table 1 shows the range of parameters.
4.6 Friction factor

4 Data reduction The f is calculated from the measured value of (∆p)d across
the test section length using the Darcy equation as
The data collected have been used to calculate ht, Nu, and 2(�p )d Dhd
f. Relevant expressions for the computation of the above f = (7)
4ρa Lt V 2
parameters and some intermediate parameters have been
given below. where (�p )d = 9.81 · (�h )d · Dhd ρa ma .

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Heat Mass Transfer

Fig.  3  a Discussed multi

V-down pattern baffle. b Vari-
ation of relative width ratio in
a multi V-perforated baffle
arrangements

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Heat Mass Transfer

Table 1  Flow and baffles roughness parameters

S. no. Parameters Ranges

1. WD/WB 1.0–6.0
2. HB/HD 0.50
3. PB/HB 10.0
4. OB/HB 0.44
5. βO 12 %
6. αa 60°
7. Re 4000–9000

4.7 Heat transfer coefficient

The useful heat gained by air is calculated as

Fig. 4  Comparison of experimental and predicted of Nusselt number
Qu = ma cp (T0 − Ti ) (8) values for smooth wall with Reynolds number
The heat transfer coefficient (ht) for the heated test sec-
tion has been calculated from
Qu
ht =   (9)
Ap · Tp − Tf
4.8 Nusselt number

The ht can be used to determine the Nu, which is given by

ht Dhd
Nu = (10)
Ka
5 Validation of experimental data

The value of Nu and f calculated from experimental data for

a smooth duct have been compared with the values obtained
from the Dittus–Boelter equation [Eq. (11)] for the Nuss, Fig. 5  Comparison of experimental and predicted values of friction
and modified Blasius equation [Eq. (12)] for the fss. factor for smooth wall with Reynolds number
Nuss for a smooth duct is given by the Dittus–Boelter
equation as: given in “Appendix”. The maximum possible measurement
errors in the values of major parameters are given below:
Nuss = 0.023Re0.8 Pr 0.4 (11)
fss for a smooth duct is given by the modified Blasius Mass flow rate: 1.92 %
equation as: Velocity of air: 4.73 %
Reynolds number: 5.98 %
fss = 0.085Re−0.25 (12) Useful heat gain: 3.16 %
The comparison of the experimental and estimated val- Heat transfer coefficient: 5.94 %
ues of Nuss and fss as a function of Re is shown in Figs. 4 Nusselt number: 6.13 %
and 5 respectively. Friction factor: 3.85 %

6 Uncertainty analysis 7 Results and discussion

An uncertainty analysis has been carried to estimate the An experimental investigation was carried out to discuss
errors involved in experimental data measurement. The the effect of Re on Nurs and frs and perforation in multi
uncertainty is estimated based on errors associated with V-down baffle used to provide roughness for a rectangular
measuring instruments [40]. The details of the analysis are duct. The outcomes related with multi V-down perforated

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baffles duct have been compared with those obtained from
the smooth surface under similar working conditions in
order to find the enhancement in heat transfer and friction
factor.
7.1 Heat transfer and fluid flow
In a rectangular duct the effect of WD/WB on Nurs and frs
in the stream of air are presented. The outcomes have
been compared with those obtained in case of smooth
surface working under similar mathematical conditions.
For kept values of the parameters such as HB/HD  = 0.50,
PB/HB = 10.0, OB/HB = 0.44, β0 = 12 % and αa = 60°, the
value of Nurs have been shown as a function of WD/WB for
the values of Re as shown in Fig. 6. It has been found that
Nurs increases with rise in WD/WB and gets highest possible
value corresponding to WD/WB value of 5.0. As expected,
in all the cases the multi V-down perforated baffled wall
produces higher Nurs as compared to smooth wall. A bet-
ter heat transfer performance is given by multi V-down
perforated baffles because the baffles top induces second-
ary streams jets. These secondary jets have the form of two
counter rotating vortices which carries cold fluid from the
central core area towards the baffled walls. These second-
ary flow jets interacts with the main stream affect the flow
reattachment and recirculation among baffles and interrupt
boundary layer growth downstream of the reattachment
regions.
It can be observed that as the value of WD/WB of 3.0 is
increased, the number of leading end and trailing end also
increased which increases the secondary flow cells result-
ing in expected enhancement in heat transferred as observed
in Fig. 7 however Nurs increased continuously only up to a
value of WD/WB of 5.0. With further increase in the value
of WD/WB, the value of Nurs decreases. V-patterned baffles
induces strong secondary stream jet along the limbs and
Fig. 6  Effect of relative baffle width on Nusselt number
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Heat Mass Transfer
Fig. 7  Secondary flow pattern in multi V-perforated baffle
promote turbulence mixing when jets passing from perfora-
tions reattach and mix with main stream. The multi V-down
pattern perforated baffles used across the width of the
heated wall increases number of leading and trailing edges
also increase the number of jets as observed in the Figs. 8
and 9. These jets are responsible for rise in heat transfer.
Figure 10 shows that the values of Nurs as a function of rela-
tive baffle width (WD/WB) for a 60° multi V-perforated baf-
fle duct at various selected Re. It is found that the value Nurs
is the highest for the WD/WB of 5.0 for all value of Re.
Invariable use of roughness on heated wall signifi-
cantly enhances heat transfer from heated wall of rectan-
gular duct however there occurs a corresponding increase
in friction losses. In this experimental investigation it was
studied that how friction characteristic of the rectangu-
lar duct were affected when multi-V down shaped perfo-
rated baffles roughness parameter WD/WB has been varied
and other roughness parameter are kept as HB/HD = 0.50,
PB/HB  = 10.0, OB/HB  = 0.44, β0  = 12 % and αa  = 60°.
Figure  11 represents the change in frs with Re for distinct
values of WD/WB.
From the plot it has been observed that frs increases
with decrease in Re in every case. It can observed that
frs increases monotonically with increase in WD/WB. At
WD/WB of 6.0, the maximum value of frs has been observed.
This due to the fact that the angling of the baffle helps in
the production of secondary stream jets. The number of
secondary stream jets are increased with in the increasing
value of WD/WB. This leads the rise in the value of Nurs up
to WD/WB of 5.0. Further increase in the WD/WB beyond
5.0 may results in partition of flow from top baffle wall
which reduces Nurs. With the increase in WD/WB the value
of frs increases and attain a maximum value corresponding
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Heat Mass Transfer

Fig. 8  Pathlines flow
pattern for a WD/WB = 1.0.
b WD/WB = 4.0

Fig. 10  Effect of relative width ratio on Nusselt number at selected

Reynolds number

to WD/WB value of 6.0 in the range of parameter consid-

Fig. 9  Fluid flow pattern for a WD/WB = 1.0. b WD/WB = 2.0
ered. Due to separation of stream, the value of frs goes on
account of configuration of vortices. Several vortices rises
mixing of air due to which heat transfer rises.
Because of this reason, the heat transfer from plate to
air rises but these vortices also increase the huge pressure
drop through the flow across the channel. The number of

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Fig. 11  Effect of relative width ratio on friction factor
Fig. 12  Effect of relative width ratio on friction factor at selected
Reynolds number
vortices is more in case of WD/WB of 6.0 as compared to
WD/WB of 5.0. Therefore in case of WD/WBof 6.0, vortices
and air mixing is more which causes the higher pressure
drop. This extreme formation of vortices and mixing of
fluid also does not contribute in rising the heat transfer rate
with further rise in the value of WD/WB as shown in Fig. 12.
7.2 Thermo hydraulic performance
From the investigation of Nurs and frs behaviors it is con-
cluded that heat transfer enhancement in the multi-V
down perforated baffled duct is improved with a signifi-
cant rise in the friction factor. So it is important to choose
geometry that should not only outcomes in maximum
heat transfer but also retain the friction power penalty
at its minimum possible level. In order to achieve this
goal of simultaneous consideration of thermal as well as
13
Heat Mass Transfer
Fig. 13  Effect of relative width ratio on thermo-hydraulic perfor-
mance
Fig. 14  Effect of relative width ratio on thermo-hydraulic perfor-
mance at selected Reynolds number
hydraulic performance a parameter known as thermo-
hydraulic performance (η), designates the heat transfer
enhancement by the WD/WBof multi V-down pattern perfo-
rated baffles per unit pumping power comparing with the
heat transfer for completely developed turbulent stream
in the duct with smooth walls is given by the following
Eq. (13) [38, 39]:
η = (Nurs /Nuss )/(frs /fss )0.33 (13)
A high value of this parameter shows relatively higher
utility of the augmentation device and can be used to com-
pare the performance of number of preparations to decide
the best among these. The values of thermal hydraulic per-
formance for the different values of WD/WB is plotted in
Fig. 13. It can be observed that the value of, η = (Nurs/Nuss)/
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Heat Mass Transfer

Table 2  Comparison thermo- S.N. Baffle shapes Thermo-hydraulic

hydraulic performance with
various baffles air channel in
previous investigations performance ( )

1. 2.22

Angled baffles (24)

2. 2.56

V-shaped baffles (25)

3. 2.13

Perforated baffles (20)

4. 2.05

(frs/fss)0.33 is maximum for WD/WB of 5.0 for all values of
Re considered for the present examination. Figure 14 shows
that the values of thermal hydraulic performance as a func-
tion of relative baffle width (WD/WB) for a 60° multi V-per-
forated baffle duct at different selected Re. It is found that
the value thermal hydraulic performance parameter is the
highest for the WD/WB of 5.0 for all value of Re.
The values of η  = (Nurs/Nuss)/(frs/fss)0.33 for the shapes
of multi V-down pattern perforated baffles have been com-
pared with the values for other baffles shapes rectangular
duct as shown in Table 2. It is seen that from the Table 2 the
multi V-down pattern perforated baffles shape outcomes in
the greatest thermo-hydraulic performance between all the
shapes studied.
8 Conclusions
Based on experimental investigation of Nurs, frs and
η  = (Nurs/Nuss)/(frs/fss)0.33 of rectangular duct fitted with
multi V-down perforated baffle on the base of the heated
wall, the following inferences can be drawn.

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Heat Mass Transfer

Table 2  continued Transverse Perforated blocks baffles (29)

5. 2.45

Delta shaped baffles (31)

6. 2.78

Single V-Perforated shaped baffles (37)

7. 3.07

Single V-Perforated shaped baffles (22)

8. 3.07

Continuous multi V-shaped baffles (12)

3.41

Multi V-perforated baffle [Present study]

1. The heat transfer enhancement is a strong function of
WD/WB and multi V-down pattern perforated baffles
outcomes in significant enhancement in heat transfer
rate of air flow in a rectangular duct.
2. Multi V-perforated baffle arrangements enhances the
heat transfer and friction factor of the roughened rec-
tangular ducts. The increase in Nusselt number and
friction factor is in the range of 3.34–4.87 times and
4.69–5.18 times of the smooth duct, respectively for
the range of Reynolds number from 4000 to 9000.
3. With an increase in Re, Nurs rises while frs reduces.
In comparison of a rectangular duct without baffles, a

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Heat Mass Transfer

multi V-down pattern perforated baffles have high val- Table 3  Measured parameters and their respective values
ues of Nurs and frs. This causes the change in the fluid S. no. Parameter Value
flow characteristics due to baffles roughness which
results in flow separation, reattachment and generation 1. Length of test section, Lt 1200 mm
of secondary flow jets. 2. Width of the channel, WD 300 mm
4. For multi V-down pattern perforated baffles with 3. Height of channel, HB 30 mm
WD/WB of 5.0, the extreme value of Nurs is observed 4. Diameter of pipe, Dp 80 mm
and extreme value of frs occurs for multi V-down pat- 5. Diameter of orifice meter, Do 43 mm
tern perforated baffles with WD/WB of 6.0. 6. Pressure drop across orifice meter, (∆p)o 175 mm
5. In a multi V-down pattern perforated baffles rectangu- 7. Pressure drop across test section, (∆p)d 48.2 Pa
lar duct, the optimal value of thermo-hydraulic perfor- 8. Atmospheric pressure, Pa 97,500
mance has been found corresponding to WD/WB of 5.0. 9. Outlet air temperature, To 23.33
The multi V-pattern perforated baffles has also been 10. Inlet air temperature, Ti 19
seen to be thermo hydraulically superior as compared 11. Rise in temperature of air, ∆T 4.33
to other baffles shapes rectangular duct. 12. Mean bulk air temperature, Tf 21.165
13. Mean plate temperature, Tp 42.5

Appendix: Uncertainty analysis

 0.86
Tf 97500
During experimentation, lots of factors come into play Ka = 0.0257 × ρa = × Tf
293 287.045
which causes deviation in the values of the measured
parameters from the actual value. It is essential to investi- Uncertainty associated with instruments used in various
gate this deviation which might occur due to carelessness measurements of parameters in the experiment is given in
during experimentation. Uncertainty analysis provides Table 4.
the maximum possible error in numerical digits. It is
based on the random sampling during the experimenta- 1. Uncertainty in Area of absorber plate
tion. The uncertainty analysis tells us expected accuracy,
not the exact accuracy of the system. To evaluate uncer- Ap = WD × Lt
tainty involve in this experiment method suggested by  2 2 0.5
Kline and McClintock [40] is used. If the value of any

δAp δLt δWD
= +
parameter is calculated using certain measured quantities Ap Lt WD
then error in measurement of “y” (parameter) is given as
follows. 2. Uncertainty in Area of flow

δy δy
2 
δy
2 
δy
2 Ap = WD × HB
= δx1 + δx2 + δx3
y δx1 δx2 δx3  2  2 0.5
δAp δHB δWD
 2 0.5 = +
δy Ap HB WD
+··· + δxn
δxn
3. Uncertainty in measurement of Hydraulic diameter
where, δx1 , δx2 , δx3 , . . . , δxn are possible error in measure-
ment of x1, x2, x3, …, xn, δy is known as absolute uncer- 4 × (WD × HB )
δ Dhd = = 2(WD HB )(WD + HB )−2
tainty and yy is known as relative uncertainty. 2 × (WD × HB )
In the present experiment, important parameters con-
sidered for uncertainty analysis are Reynolds number,
Heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and friction
 2  2 0.5
δDhd δDhd
factor. The values of measured parameters are given in δDhd δWD δWD + δHB δHB
Table 3. =
Dhd 2(WD × HB )(WD + HB )−1
The thermo-physical properties of air have been deter-
mined by following standard correlations: 4. Uncertainty in Area of orifice meter

Tf 0.735 Tf 0.0155
   
π 2
µ = 1.81 × 10−5 × Cp = 1006 × Ao = D
293 293 4 o

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Heat Mass Transfer

Table 4  Uncertainty intervals S. no. Measurement Instrument Uncertainty

of various measurements
1. Dimensions of channel Vernier caliper ±0.1 mm
2. Pressure drop across the channel Micro-manometer ±0.1 Pa
3. Pressure drop across the orifice-plate U-tube manometer ±1 mm
4. Temperature measurement Copper Constanton thermocouple ±0.1 °C
5. Orifice plate and throat diameter Vernier caliper ±0.1 mm

9. Uncertainty in heat transfer coefficient

πDo ×δDo
Ao 2 2 × δDo 2 × 0.1
= π 2 = =
δAo D
4 o Do 42.96 Q Qu
ht =  u =
Ap × Tp − Tf Ap × Tf
5. Uncertainty in density measurement
 2  2  2 0.5
δht δQu δAp δ�Tf
Pa = + +
ρa = ht Qu Ap �Tf
R × To
10. Uncertainty in Nusselt number
 2  2 0.5
δρa δPa δTo
= +
ρa Pa To ht Dhd
Nurs =
Ka
6. Uncertainty in mass flow rate measurement
 2  2  2 0.5
δNurs δDhd δht δKa
 0.5 = + +
2ρa (�p)0 Nurs Dhd ht Ka
ma = Cdo Ao
1 − β4
11. Uncertainty in Reynolds Number
 2  2  2  2 0.5
δma δCdo δAo δρa δ(�p)0 V · Dhd ρa VDhd
= + + +
m Cdo Ao ρa (�p)0 Re = =
ν µ
7. Uncertainty in measurement of air velocity in channel  2  2  2  2 0.5
δRe δDhd δV δρa δµ
= + + +
ma Re Dhd V ρa µ
V=
ρa × WD × HB
12. Uncertainty in friction factor
 2  2  2  2 0.5
δV δma δρa δWD δHB
= + + +  
2 �p d Dhd
V ma ρa WD HB
frs =
4ρa Lt V 2
8. Uncertainty in useful heat gain
�� �2 � �2 � �2 � �2
δfrs δDhd δV δLt δρa
Qu = ma cp (T0 − Ti ) = ma cp �T = + + +
frs Dhd V Lt ρa
 2 2 2 0.5 � � � �2 0.5
δQu δma

δcp

δ�T δ �p
= + + + � �d 
Qu ma cp �T �p d

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Heat Mass Transfer
Table 5  Range of uncertainty in the measurement of essential
parameters
S. no. Parameters Error range (%)
1. Mass flow rate (ma) 0.865–1.92
2. Velocity of air (V) 1.365–2.711
Reynolds number (Re) 2.16–5.987
3. Useful heat gain (Qu) 1.831–3.167
4. Heat transfer coefficient (ht) 2.153–5.945
5. Nusselt number (Nurs) 2.678–6.132
6. Friction factor (frs) 1.783–3.851
The uncertainty calculation has been done on a single
test run (constant Reynolds number), the uncertainty anal-
ysis for complete test run for single geometry (complete
set of Reynolds number) is carried out and results are pre-
sented in Table 5 for the experimental data.
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