A 2D Finite Element Study on the Flow Pattern and Temperature Distribution for an Isothermal Spherical Furnace with the Aperture

Sudhakar Matle,Subbiah Sundar

doi:10.4236/ojapps.2012.24046

Sudhakar Matle, Subbiah Sundar

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2012.24046

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Abstract

Calibration of radiation thermometers is one of the important research activities in the field of metrology. Many researchers in recent times have conducted numerical simulations on the calibration furnace to understand and overcome the experiment limitations. This paper presents a 2D numerical free convective study on the calibration furnace with the aperture using finite element method. The focused issues here are: aspect ratio effect on the flow pattern and temperature fields, heat transfer mechanism in the aperture zone as well as in hump regime. It is concluded that flow and temperature fields follow the same behavior in the hump regime as well as in the aperture zone. Also, it concluded that penetrative convection is more dominant for the enclosure of high aspect ratio.

Highlights

Temperature measurement of the very hot objects by means of contact thermocouple is not always handy
This paper presents a 2D numerical free convective study on the calibration furnace with the aperture using finite element method
Typical flow and temperature fields, mechanism of heat transfer and thermal penetration in the aperture region are thoroughly discussed by varying Rayleigh numbers from 104 to the high Rayleigh number achieved

Summary

Introduction

Temperature measurement of the very hot objects by means of contact thermocouple is not always handy. For details on calibration furnace and the finite element modeling to study experiment limitations, one can refer authors’ previous work [2]. Many research efforts have been done finite element modeling [3,4] of calibration furnaces, industrial furnaces, heated spheres [5,6] and solar cavity receivers for quality equipment. Oluwole et al [7] studied the flow patterns in two salt bath furnaces using finite element analysis. Sarris et al [14] studied numerically natural convection in a rectangular enclosure with heating from the top wall with all others insulated by varying Rayleigh number from 102 to 108 and the aspect ratio from 0.5 to 2. This paper addresses a 2D numerical free convective study on the calibration furnace with the aperture.

Statement of the Problem

Mathematical Formulation

Results and Discussion

Flow and Temperature Fields

Free Convection in the Hump Regime

Conclusions