Characterization of fluid flow through perforated plates

Abstract

Perforated plates are important in many applications because of their properties for fluid and thermal management. In this paper, we address fundamental questions about how the geometry of the holes and the void fraction of plates affect fluid flow. Fluid flows in three dimensional perforated plates are solved numerically over a wide range of porosity and Reynolds number. The complete set of Navier-Stokes equations is numerically solved for both viscous and nonviscous flow regimes. According to this analysis, equations to calculate loss factor are presented. These equations accurately predict the relation between pressure drop and the fluid flow. In addition, a close examination of results obtained shows that perforated panels with noncircular holes are likely to be more efficient for transporting fluid than panels with circular holes. Apart from the focus on the shape effects, the onset of nonlinear flows is also analyzed. These results provide vital information for the efficient design of perforated panels.