Numerical Study of Natural Convection in a Partially Open Environment With a Heat Generating Source

Abstract

A numerical study of the thermal and fluid dynamic behavior of air in a partially open two-dimensional enclosure is presented The enclosure has an opening on the right-hand vertical wall, which is kept at a low given temperature, while the opposite wall has a high given temperature. The natural convection in the enclosure is influenced simultaneously by the difference in temperature between the vertical walls, represented by the Rayleigh number (Rae) and by the internal heating source in the enclosure, represented by the Rayleigh number (Rai). The internal heat source is located on the lower horizontal wall, occupying three different positions. The numerical simulations were executed for 103 ≤ Rae ≤ 106 while the intensity of the two effects - the difference in temperature of the vertical walls and the internal heating source - was evaluated based on the relation R = Rai/Rae, which assumed the values of 400, 1000 and 2500. The results obtained in this study are compared with the results reported in the literature, showing a good congruence.