LAUSR

abstract Periodically fully developed two-dimensional (2D) flow in a furrowed wavy channel is investigated numerically at various Reynolds numbers (100–2123). For the laminar and transitional flow regime, the study is done for six geometrically different channels; corresponding to various nondimensional amplitude (0.05, 0.075, and 0.1) and wavelength (0.5 and 1). Critical Reynolds number—for the onset of periodic flow—decreases with increasing amplitude and wavelength. A flow regime map—demarcating steady and unsteady flow regime—is proposed. It is shown that the size of the vortex in streamlines and waviness in isotherms increase with increasing Reynolds number, amplitude and wavelength. The performance of wavy as compared to straight channel is studied with the help of ratio of Nusselt number, friction factor and area-goodness factor, and thermal-performance factor. With increasing Reynolds number, all these parameters remain almost constant in the steady regime and increase almost linearly in the unsteady regime. For the largest Reynolds number (close to 2000) studied here, the increase in the Nusselt number ratio—within the periodic flow regime—is 11.21% and 133% for the amplitude equal to 0.075 and 0.1, respectively, at a wavelength of 0.5; at a wavelength of 1.0, the increase is 101%, 134%, and 181% for the amplitude of 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1, respectively.