Effect of heating location and size on mixed convection in lid-driven cavities

Abstract

A numerical study is performed to analyze the mixed convection heat transfer and fluid flow in lid-driven cavities with different lengths of the heating portion and different locations of it. The left wall has been heated fully or partially to a higher temperature, whereas the right wall is maintained at a lower temperature. Three different lengths of the heating portion and three different locations of it are used along the hot wall. The remaining portions of the left wall, and the top and the bottom walls of the cavity are insulated. The finite volume method is used to discretize the governing equations which are then solved iteratively. The velocities and pressure are coupled by the SIMPLE algorithm. Results are presented graphically in the form of streamlines, isotherms and velocity profiles. It is concluded that the heat transfer rate is enhanced on reducing the heating portion and when the portion is at middle or top of the hot wall of the cavity.