Numerical experiments on laminar natural convection in rectangular cavities with and without honeycomb‐structures

Abstract

Two‐dimensional finite difference calculations are carried out to study laminar flow in longitudinal and transverse convection rolls for three different geometries: a single rectangular cavity with high aspect ratio; a double cavity with a thin separation sheet; and a double cavity with a separation sheet and a honeycomb structure. The equations for the convection‐diffusion in the fluid and conduction in the solid region are solved simultaneously. Good agreement with experimental data is achieved for Rayleigh numbers not too high above the critical value for the onset of secondary convection rolls (Ra < 8500 for vertical and Ra < 2700 for horizontal cavities filled with air). Simulation fails for inclined cavities, where the flow structure is essentially three‐dimensional.