Juan C. Prince-Avelino

A computer simulation study of a laminar steady-state glass flow that exits from a channel cooled with water is reported. The simulations are carried out in a two-dimensional, Cartesian channel with a backward-facing step for three different angles of the step and different glass outflow velocities. We studied the interaction of the fluid dynamics, phase change and thermal behavior of the glass flow due to the heat that transfers to the cooling water through the wall of the channel. The temperature, streamline, phase change and pressure fields are obtained and analyzed for the glass flow. Moreover, the temperature increments of the cooling water are characterized. It is shown that, by reducing the glass outflow velocity, the solidification is enhanced; meanwhile, an increase of the step angle also improves the solidification of the glass flow.

A numerical investigation of laminar flow in a two-dimensional, Cartesian flow that exits from a short channel with a backward-facing step is carried out in this work for the Reynolds number range of 0.00054 < Re < 54. We studied the steady state fluid dynamics, phase change and heat transfer of the flow. We analyzed the flow behavior occurring for different outflow velocities and three different configuration of the step. The incompressible working fluid was glass. The temperature, streamline, phase change and pressure fields are obtained and analyzed as a function of position. In order to obtain a better understanding of the step angle influence on the fluid dynamics, we obtained the heat transfer flux rates and the axial velocity profiles.