Mixed convection and surface radiation in a ventilated cavity containing two heat-generating solid bodies

Abstract

This work aims to numerically study the mixed laminar convection and surface radiation in a square air-ventilated cavity (Pr=0.71). Inside this cavity, two square bodies are placed at the same height and generate the same amount of heat. This model can be applied to cooling electronic components. The air enters the cavity from an inlet port at the bottom of the left vertical wall and exits in the outlet port at the top of the other vertical wall. The left wall of the cavity is maintained at a constant temperature TC, while the other walls are assumed to be adiabatic. The Finite Volume Method (FVM) and the SIMPLE algorithm are used to discretize and solve the governing equations. The effect of Rayleigh and Reynolds numbers and surface emissivity on streamlines, isotherms, maximum temperature, and convective and radiative Nusselt numbers are discussed. The obtained results indicate that the maximum temperature decreases with increasing the Reynolds number. It also observed that the surface radiation has more effect for low values of Re. For engineering purposes, correlations have been developed that give the maximum temperatures for ε=0or1, and different ranges of Reynolds number.