DNS of Heat Transfer Reduction in Viscoelastic Turbulent Channel Flows

A direct numerical simulation (DNS) of viscoelastic turbulent channel flow with the FENE-P model was carried out to investigate turbulent heat transfer mechanism of polymer drag-reduced flows. The configuration was a fully-developed turbulent channel flow with uniform heat flux imposed on both walls. The temperature was considered as a passive scalar. The Reynolds number based on the friction velocity (u_τ) and channel half height (δ) is 125 and Prandtl number is 5. Consistently with the previous experimental observations, the present DNS results show that the heat-transfer coefficient was reduced at a rate faster than the accompanying drag reduction rate. Statistical quantities such as root-mean-square temperature fluctuations and turbulent heat fluxes were obtained and compared with those of a Newtonian fluid flow. Budget terms of the turbulent heat fluxes were also presented.