Heat transfer in an infinite layer with fractal distribution of heating elements

Abstract

The effect of inhomogeneous temperature distribution at boundary on convection in an infinite horizontal plane layer is investigated. Direct numerical simulation of the compressible non-isothermal flow in a cubic cell with rigid horizontal walls is performed under periodic vertical boundary conditions. Laminar and weakly non-linear flow regimes are determined. The heated area on the cell bottom obeys regular or fractal distributions. The intensities of heat flux through the layer are compared for different heterogeneous distributions of heating elements at a specific temperature gradient in the case when the area of heated surface remains constant. Fractal geometry shows the appearance of the multiscale structure of the flow and the enhancement of heat transfer.