Abstract:
The mixed convection flow and heat transfer characteristics inside a rectangular
ventilated cavity with a heat-generating solid circular block have been investigated
numerically. The inlet opening is at the bottom of the left wall, while the outlet one is
at the top of the right wall and all the walls of the cavity are considered to be
adiabatic. The physical problems are represented mathematically by different sets of
governing equations along with the corresponding boundary conditions. Using a
class of appropriate transformations, the governing equations along with the
boundary conditions are transformed into non-dimensional form, which are then
solved by employing a finite-element scheme based on the Galerkin method of
weighted residuals.
Results are presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt number and
drag force on the solid block surface, average temperature of the fluid in the cavity
for different combinations of the governing parameters namely diameter of the solid
block D, solid and fluid thermal conductivity ratio K, heat generating parameter Q,
Reynolds number Re, Prandtl number Pr, locations of the inner block and cavity
aspect ratio AR at the three values of Richardson number Ri, varying from 0.01 to 5.
The results indicate that the flow and thermal fields as well as the heat transfer rate,
the drag force and the average fluid temperature in the cavity depend significantly on
the above mentioned parameters.
