Numerical study of natural convection heat transfer from an isothermal thin plate

Abstract

In this work detailed numerical simulations of natural convection heat transfer around an isothermal thin plate with different inclinations are carried out. The numerical approach is based on the finite volume technique for the study of air movement around the plate and its surroundings using symmetry-preserving formulation. To solve turbulence, Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) or Large Eddy Simulation (LES) are selected. After verification of the numerical solutions and comparison of the results from different turbulence models, a data reduction of the numerical results is carried out in order to determine local and global heat transfer coefficients. Furthermore, the influence of Rayleigh number and plate inclination on flow characteristics and heat transfer coefficients is investigated.