Abstract
The main objective of this article is to study the effect of coupled mode free convection with surface radiation on the fluid flow behavior inside a tilted solar collector having a flat glass cover and a wavy bottom absorber. The cavity is subject to vertical gradient temperature while its top sidewalls remain thermally insulated. The dimensionless governing equations under Boussinesq approximation are coupled with a radiative model through the boundary conditions and solved by the Finite Volume Method. The numerical results are discussed in terms of streamlines, isotherms, convective and radiative Nusselt number along the cover plate for various aspect ratios, inclination angle, emissivity and Rayleigh number. These results highlighted the condition of the enclosure performance and revealed that the heat and fluid flow fields are affected by surface radiation and the above parameters. In the end, correlations for predicating the convection heat loss in term of averaged Nusselt numbers are developed in both pure free convection and coupled convection-surface radiation modes.
Highlights
Convection heat transfer in enclosures has received considerable attention over the past few decades in view of the numerous potential applications
A literature survey related to this topic revealed that previous studies are substantially oriented toward describing the phenomenon of free convection in cavities with flat walled geometries
Benchmark solutions of De Vahl Davis [1] and Le Quere [2] have been widely considered as a reference by many authors
Summary
Convection heat transfer in enclosures has received considerable attention over the past few decades in view of the numerous potential applications. A literature survey related to this topic revealed that previous studies are substantially oriented toward describing the phenomenon of free convection in cavities with flat walled geometries. In this field, benchmark solutions of De Vahl Davis [1] and Le Quere [2] have been widely considered as a reference by many authors. Height (m) Dimensional radiosity (W.m−2) (Dimensionless J = j/σ TH4 ) Thermal conductivity (W.m−1.K−1) Length (m)
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