Effect of aspect ratio on entropy generation in a rectangular cavity with differentially heated vertical walls

Abstract

In the present study, entropy generation in rectangular cavities with the same area but different aspect ratios is numerically investigated. The vertical walls of the cavities are at different constant temperatures while the horizontal walls are adiabatic. Heat transfer between vertical walls occurs by laminar natural convection. Based on the obtained dimensionless velocity and temperature values, the distributions of local entropy generation due to heat transfer and fluid friction, the local Bejan number and local entropy generation number are determined and related maps are plotted. The variation of the total entropy generation and average Bejan number for the whole cavity volume at different aspect ratios for different values of the Rayleigh number and irreversibility distribution ratio are also evaluated. It is found that for a cavity with high value of Rayleigh number (i.e., Ra = 10 5), the total entropy generation due to fluid friction and total entropy generation number increase with increasing aspect ratio, attain a maximum and then decrease. The present results are compared with reported solutions and excellent agreement is observed. The study is performed for 10 2 < Ra < 10 5, 10 − 4 < ϕ < 10 − 2 , and Pr = 0.7.