Experimental Analysis of Natural Convection and Flow Visualization in an Asymmetrically Heated Open Vertical Channel

Author(s):  
Yassine Cherif ◽  
Emilio Sassine ◽  
Laurent Zalewski ◽  
Kaies Souidi ◽  
Stephane Lassue

An experimental device was designed to perform the thermal and dynamic study of natural convection airflow in an open vertical channel. The two side walls of the vertical channel are made of Plexiglas allowing the visualization of the flow via the particle image velocimetry (PIV) method. For the two other vertical walls, one is heated at a constant temperature, and the other is insulated with a 9-cm thick polystyrene insulation. The dynamic characterization of convection is carried out by nonintrusive measurements (PIV), and thermal phenomena are analyzed using nonintrusive heat flux instrumentation (simultaneous temperature and velocity measurements have been carried out across the channel at different elevations). Moreover, this study deals with the influence of the Rayleigh number on the measured vertical velocity profiles as well as the thermal flux densities recorded along the heated wall. To do this, different values of the modified Rayleigh numbers were considered in the interval with the channel aspect ratio of A = 5 and A = 12.5. The obtained Nusselt number values have been compared successfully with those of the literature. The impacts of the Rayleigh number and the aspect ratio on the velocity profiles and the convective and radiative heat transfer have been examined.

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Webb ◽  
D. P. Hill

Experiments have been performed to determine local heat transfer data for the natural convective flow of air between vertical parallel plates heated asymmetrically. A uniform heat flux was imposed along one heated wall, with the opposing wall of the channel being thermally insulated. Local temperature data along both walls were collected for a wide range of heating rates and channel wall spacings corresponding to the high modified Rayleigh number natural convection regime. Laminar flow prevailed in all experiments. Correlations are presented for the local Nusselt number as a function of local Grashof number along the channel. The dependence of both average Nusselt number and the maximum heated wall temperature on the modified Rayleigh number is also explored. Results are compared to previous analytical and experimental work with good agreement.


Author(s):  
Assunta Andreozzi ◽  
Bernardo Buonomo ◽  
Oronzio Manca

In this paper a parametric analysis of natural convection in air in a channel-chimney system symmetrically heated at uniform heat flux, obtained by means of a numerical simulation, is carried out. The analysed regime is two-dimensional, laminar and steady-state. The numerical procedure employs the full Navier-Stokes and energy equations in terms of the stream function-vorticity approach. Results are presented in terms of wall temperature profiles in order to show the more thermally convenient configurations which correspond to the channel-chimney system with the lowest maximum wall temperature. The analysis is obtained for a Rayleigh number in the range between 102 and 105, for a channel aspect ratio equal to 5, 10 and 20 and the extension and expansion ratios between 1.0 and 4.0. Correlations for dimensionless mass flow rate, maximum wall temperature and average Nusselt number in terms of Rayleigh number, aspect ratio, extension and expansion ratios are presented. Geometric optimal configurations, for assigned Rayleigh number and aspect ratio, are estimated as a function of the extension ratio. For considered Rayleigh number the difference between the highest and the lowest maximum wall temperatures increases increasing the channel aspect ratio. This behaviour is as greater as the extension ratio is. These differences decrease significantly for the highest Rayleigh number value. The optimal expansion ratio values depend strongly on Rayleigh number and extension ratio values and slightly on the aspect ratio.


Author(s):  
H. Kazeminejad

A numerical investigation of laminar free convective heat transfer in a vertical channel with asymmetrical heating has been presented. Uniform wall temperatures are prescribed as thermal boundary conditions. The governing differential equations were solved by a finite volume method. The SIMPLER algorithm for pressure velocity coupling was adopted. A new iterative scheme based on mass balance at inlet and outlet has been used. By solving the flow as an elliptic problem, the effect of vertical diffusion of thermal energy, which was neglected in previous numerical studies, was taken into consideration. Variation of the mean velocity and average Nusselt number for Rayleigh number range of 10 to 103, channel aspect ratio range of 10 to 103 and Prandtl numbers of 0.72 and 5 are determined. For uniform wall temperature the average Nusselt number based on wall to ambient temperature difference and heat flux at different points are compared to the experimental results. The results revealed that the average Nusselt number from the thermally active surface in an asymmetric channel to be higher than from a comparable surface in a symmetric configuration, for fixed channel aspect ratio, at low values of Rayleigh number. There was no appreciable change in Nusselt number when Prandtl number was changed from 0.72 to 5. The minimum axial pressure for free convective flow of air is the highest for the symmetric heating condition.


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Aich ◽  
Imen Hajri ◽  
Ahmed Omri

Natural convection heat transfer and fluid flow have been examined numerically using the control-volume finite-element method in an isosceles prismatic cavity, submitted to a uniform heat flux from below when inclined sides are maintained isothermal and vertical walls are assumed to be perfect thermal insulators, without symmetry assumptions for the flow structure. The aim of the study is to examine a pitchfork bifurcation occurrence. Governing parameters on heat transfer and flow fields are the Rayleigh number and the aspect ratio of the enclosure. It has been found that the heated wall is not isothermal and the flow structure is sensitive to the aspect ratio. It is also found that heat transfer increases with increasing of Rayleigh number and decreases with increasing aspect ratio. The effects of aspect ratio become significant especially for higher values of Rayleigh number. Eventually the obtained results show that a pitchfork bifurcation occurs at a critical Rayleigh number, above which the symmetric solutions becomes unstable and asymmetric solutions are instead obtained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-244
Author(s):  
Mehdi Ahmadi ◽  
Seyed Ali Agha Mirjalily ◽  
Seyed Amir Abbas Oloomi

ABSTRACT: This study is conducted to investigate turbulent natural convection flow in an enclosure with thermal sources using the low-Reynolds number (LRN) k-? model. This enclosure has a cold source with temperature Tc and a hot source with temperature Th as thermal sources, other walls of the enclosure are adiabatic. The aim of this study is to predict the effect of change in Rayleigh number, repositioning of cold and hot sources, and thermal sources aspect ratio on the flow field, temperature, and rate of heat transfer. To achieve this aim, the equations of continuity, momentum, energy, turbulent kinetic energy, and kinetic energy dissipation are employed in the case of 2D turbulence with constant thermo-physical properties except the density in the buoyancy term (Boussinesq approximation). To numerically solve these equations, the finite volume method and SIMPLE algorithm are used. According to the modeling results, the most optimal temperature distribution in the enclosure is seen when the hot source is below the cold source. With decreasing distance between hot and cold sources, heat transfer rate increases. The maximal heat transfer rate is derived via study of the heating sources aspect ratio. In constant positions of cold and hot sources on a wall, the heat transfer rate increases with increasing Rayleigh number (Ra=109-1011). ABSTAK: Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengkaji perubahan semula jadi aliran perolakan dalam tempat tertutup dengan sumber haba menggunakan model k-? nombor Reynolds-rendah (LRN). Bekas tertutup ini mempunyai dua sumber haba iaitu sumber sejuk dengan suhu Tc dan sumber panas dengan suhu Th, manakala dinding lain bekas ini adalah adiabatik. Tujuan kajian ini adalah bagi mengesan perubahan nombor Rayleigh, mengubah sumber sejuk dan panas dan nisbah sumber haba kepada kawasan aliran, suhu dan halaju perubahan haba. Bagi mencapai tujuan tersebut, persamaan sambungan, momentum, tenaga, tenaga kinetik perolakan, dan pengurangan tenaga kinetik telah dilaksanakan dalam kes perolakan 2D dengan sifat fizikal-haba berterusan (malar) kecuali isipadu terma keapungan (anggaran Boussinesq). Bagi menyelesaikan persamaan ini secara berangka, kaedah isipadu terhad dan algorithma MUDAH telah digunakan. Berdasarkan keputusan model, suhu distribusi optimal dalam bekas tertutup dilihat apabila sumber panas adalah kurang daripada sumber sejuk. Dengan pengurangan jarak antara sumber panas dan sejuk, kadar pertukaran haba meningkat. Kadar pertukaran haba maksima telah diperoleh melalui kajian nisbah  aspek sumber pemanasan. Kadar pertukaran haba bertambah dengan bertambahnya nombor Rayleigh  (Ra=109-1011), pada posisi tetap sumber sejuk dan panas pada dinding bekas.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 3659-3684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasul Mohebbi ◽  
Mohsen Izadi ◽  
Nor Azwadi Che Sidik ◽  
Gholamhassan Najafi

Purpose This paper aims to study the natural convection of a nanofluid inside a cavity which contains obstacles using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The results have focused mainly on various parameters such as number and aspect ratio of roughness elements and different nanoparticle volume fraction. The isotherms and streamlines are presented to describe the hydrodynamics and thermal behaviors of the nanofluid flow throughout the enclosure. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of this paper consists of mathematical model, statement of the problem, nanofluid thermophysical properties, lattice Boltzmann method, LBM for fluid flow, LBM for heat transfer, numerical strategy, boundary conditions, Nusselt (Nu) number calculation, code validation and grid independence. Findings Natural convection heat transfers of a nanofluid inside cavities with and without rough elements have been studied. Lattice Boltzmann technique has been used as numerical approach. The results showed that at higher Rayleigh number (Ra = 106), there are denser streamlines near the left (source) and right wall (sink) which results in better cooling and enhances convective heat rejection to the heat sink. After a distinctive aspect ratio of rough elements (A = 0.1), change in streamline pattern which arises from increasing of aspect ratio does not have an important effect on isotherms. Results indicate that for lower Rayleigh number (Ra = 103), no variation in average Nu is observed with increasing in number of roughness, while for higher one (Ra = 106) average Nu decreases from N = 0 (smooth cavity) up to N = 4 and then remains constant (N = 6). Originality/value Currently, no argumentative and comprehensive extraction can be concluded without fully understanding the role of different arrangement of roughness. Some geometrical parameters such as aspect ratio, number and position of rough elements have been considered. Also, the effect of nanoparticle concentration was studied at different Ra number. Briefly, using LBM, this paper aims to investigate the natural convection of a nanofluid flow on the thermal and hydrodynamics parameters in the presence of rough element with various arrangements.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1621-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Salari ◽  
Ali Mohammadtabar ◽  
Mohammad Mohammadtabar

In this paper, entropy generation induced by natural convection of cu-water nanofluid in rectangular cavities with different circular corners and different aspect-ratios were numerically investigated. The governing equations were solved using a finite volume approach and the SIMPLE algorithm was used to couple the pressure and velocity fields. The results showed that the total entropy generation increased with the increase of Rayleigh number, irreversibility coefficient, aspect ratio or solid volume fraction while it decreased with the increase of the corner radius. It should be noted that the best way for minimizing entropy generation is decreasing Rayleigh number. This is the first priority for minimizing entropy generation. The other parameters such as radius, volume fraction, etc are placed on the second priority. However, Bejan number had an inverse trend compared with total entropy generation. As an exception, Bejan number and total entropy number had the same trend whenever solid volume fraction increased. Moreover, Nusselt number increased as Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction or aspect ratio increased whereas it decreases with the increase of corner radius.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 916-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Prasad ◽  
A. Chui

A numerical study is performed on natural convection inside a cylindrical enclosure filled with a volumetrically heated, saturated porous medium for the case when the vertical wall is isothermal and the horizontal walls are either adiabatic or isothermally cooled. When the horizontal walls are insulated, the flow in the cavity is unicellular and the temperature field in upper layers is highly stratified. However, if the top wall is cooled, there may exist a multicellular flow and an unstable thermal stratification in the upper region of the cylinder. Under the influence of weak convection, the maximum temperature in the cavity can be considerably higher than that predicted for pure conduction. The local heat flux on the bounding walls is generally a strong function of the Rayleigh number, the aspect ratio, and the wall boundary conditions. The heat removal on the cold upper surface decreases with the aspect ratio, thereby increasing the Nusselt number on the vertical wall. The effect of Rayleigh number is, however, not straightforward. Several correlations are presented for the maximum cavity temperature and the overall Nusselt number.


Author(s):  
Yu-Peng Hu ◽  
You-Rong Li ◽  
Chun-Mei Wu

In this paper, a series of numerical simulations for natural convection of water near its maximum-density around a cylinder inside a concentric triangular enclosure were conducted using finite volume method. The effects of the density inversion parameter, the aspect ratio, the Rayleigh number and the inclination angle on natural convection were discussed. Furthermore, the flow and temperature fields, the local and average Nusselt numbers at different parameters were obtained and analyzed. The results show that the flow pattern and temperature distribution are unique for various density inversion parameters and inclination angles. The density inversion parameter, the aspect ratio, the Rayleigh number all have significant effects on the overall heat transfer rates, except for the inclination angle. The present results can also contribute further information on the natural convection of non-Boussinesq fluid in enclosures.


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