Impinging-jet heat transfer (IR thermography)
Experimental heat transfer analysis of an impinging jet system (Re = 10,000) using non-intrusive infrared thermography to obtain spatially resolved temperature fields and derive local convective heat transfer coefficients.
Method
A MATLAB-based data processing pipeline was implemented to compute h(x,y) and Nusselt number distributions from energy balance equations, accounting for Joule heating, radiation losses and in-plane conduction, with a spatial resolution of 0.08 mm/pixel and uncertainty around 5%.
Results
The effect of jet-to-plate distance was analysed across H/D = 2–6, observing increasing heat transfer coefficients (h = 100→120 W/m²K, Nu = 45→55) with increasing H/D, consistent with jet development theory.
/assets/img/projects/jet-h-distribution.pngDesign modifications were then evaluated by testing non-axisymmetric rectangular nozzle geometries, achieving enhanced peak heat transfer up to h = 127 W/m²K and demonstrating the impact of geometry on convective performance. Radial Nusselt profiles confirmed the expected stagnation peak behaviour and decay in the wall-jet region.