Natural Convective Heat Transfer From the Horizontal Isothermal Surface of Polygons of Octagonal and Hexagonal Shapes

Heat transfer often occurs effectively from horizontal elements of relatively complex shapes in natural convective cooling of electronic and electrical devices used in industrial applications. The effect of complex surface shapes on laminar natural convective heat transfer from horizontal isothermal polygons of hexagonal and octagonal flat surfaces facing upward and downward of different aspect ratios has been numerically investigated. The polygons’ surface is embedded in a large surrounding plane adiabatic surface, where the adiabatic surface is in the same plane as the surface of the heated element. For the Boussinesq approach used in this work, the density of the fluid varies with temperature, which causes the buoyancy force, while other fluid properties are assumed constants. The numerical solution of the full three-dimensional form of governing equations is obtained by using the finite volume method-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT14.5. The solution parameters include surface shape, dimensionless surface width, different characteristic lengths, the Rayleigh number, and the Prandtl number. These parameters are considered as follows: the Prandtl number is 0.7, the Rayleigh numbers are between 103 and 108, and for various surface shapes the width-to-height ratios are between 0 and 1. The effect of different characteristic lengths has been investigated in defining the Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers for such complex shapes. The effect of these parameters on the mean Nusselt number has been studied, and correlation equations for the mean heat transfer rate have been derived.

Evaluation of Heat Irreversibility in a Thin Film Flow of Couple Stress Fluid on a Moving Belt

This article addresses the inherent heat irreversibility in the flow of a couple stress thin film along a moving vertical belt subjected to free and adiabatic surface. Mathematical analysis for the fluid-governing-equations is performed in detail. For maximum thermal performance and efficiency, the present analysis follows the second law of thermodynamics approach for the evaluation of entropy generation rate in the moving film. With this thermodynamic process, the interconnectivity between variables responsible for energy wastage is accounted for in the thermo-fluid equipment. Results of the analysis revealed the fluid properties that contribute more to energy loss and how the exergy of the system can be restored.

Experimental and numerical simulation studies on heat transfer to calorimeters engulfed in diesel pool fires

Characterization of heat transfer to calorimeters engulfed in pool fires is extremely important. To estimate the heat flux to the calorimeters, experiments are performed with horizontal stainless steel 304L pipes engulfed in diesel pool fires. The concept of adiabatic surface temperature is applied to predict the incident heat flux to horizontally oriented calorimeters engulfed in diesel pool fires. Plate thermometers are used to measure the adiabatic surface temperature for diesel pool fires. The estimated subsurface temperatures inside the steel pipes using the adiabatic surface temperature concept and the measured temperatures are in good agreement. Adiabatic surface temperature is also computed from fire simulations. The incident heat fluxes to the steel pipes engulfed in fire predicted from the simulations are found to be in good agreement with the experiments. The fire numerical code is validated against the 1 m pool fire experimental results of centerline temperature distribution and irradiances away from fire. A correlation is provided for the estimation of adiabatic surface temperature for large diesel pool fires. These results would provide an effective way for thermal test simulations.

Correlation Equations for Natural Convective Heat Transfer From Two Inclined Vertically Spaced Narrow Isothermal Flat Plates

Natural convective flow over narrow plates induces an inward flow near the edges of the plate causing the flow to be three-dimensional near the edges of the plate. This influences the heat transfer rate near the edges of the plate and is referred to as the edge effect. The primary objective of this paper is to numerically study this edge effect and the interaction of the flows over two inclined vertically separated narrow heated plates of the same size embedded in a plane adiabatic surface. The cases where the plates and surrounding adiabatic surface are inclined at positive or negative angles to the vertical have been considered. Results were obtained by numerically solving the full three-dimensional form of governing equations using the commercial finite volume based software Fluent©. Results have only been obtained for a Prandtl number of 0.7; this being the value existing in the application which involved airflow that originally motivated this study. The results presented here cover Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 107, at all values of W considered, plate width-to-height ratios between 0.2 and 1.2, gap, at all values of W considered, to the plate height ratios of between 0 and 1.5, and, at all values of W considered, angles of inclination of between −45 deg and +45 deg. The effects of the Rayleigh number, dimensionless plate width, dimensionless gap between plates, and inclination angle on the heat transfer rate have been studied in detail. Empirical correlations defining the effect of these parameters on the heat transfer rate have been derived.

Mechanical Response under Natural Fire of Barrel Shape Shell Structure

In this paper, thermo-mechanical analysis of the structural shell construction exposed to natural fire is presented. A barrel shape coverlet with dimensions of 40m x 80m is a roof system covers the shopping arcade. The braced shell structure is made of steel rectangular hollow sections. The steel construction is a support for a special glass system. Behaviour of structure under natural fire conditions is considered as the main goal of research. Fire is simulated with the use of FDS software. Then, adiabatic surface temperatures are transferred into the non-linear Abaqus finite element analysis as boundary conditions for thermo-mechanical analysis. The 3D geometry FE computational model is prepared using 3D beam finite elements with mechanical and thermal degrees of freedom. CFD and FE analyses are sequentially coupled using special individually designed scripts. The analyses show influence of natural fire on the structural behaviour of the roof.