Fluid Flow through Tree-Like Networks of Varying Scale

A computational fluid dynamics model was created to study local flow behavior in tree-like flow networks of varying scale. The flow behavior in a microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale tree-like flow network was examined for a range of laminar and turbulent inlet Reynolds numbers. The results, cast in terms of commonly defined dimensionless parameters, indicate that microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale flow networks exhibit both quantitatively and qualitatively similar flow behavior for laminar inlet Reynolds numbers. However, as the Reynolds number is increased the flow behavior was also found to be dependent on scale. The magnitude of local pressure recoveries at bifurcations increased with bifurcation angle as well as with inlet Reynolds number. As the Reynolds number is increased surface temperature uniformity may also increase due to local flow behavior immediately following bifurcations.