Numerical investigation of transient natural convection in a horizontal channel heated from the upper wall

Assunta Andreozzi, Yogesh Jaluria, Oronzio Manca

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this investigation a transient numerical analysis for laminar natural convection in air between two horizontal parallel plates, with the upper plate heated at uniform heat flux and the lower one adiabatic, is carried out by means of the finite-volume method. The model is assumed to be two-dimensional. The Navier-Stokes equations together with the continuity and energy equations are solved by a numerical scheme based on SIMPLE in an H-shaped domain. Results are presented in terms of air velocity and temperature profiles. Wall temperatures and the temporal behavior of several significant variables, such as the penetration length, are reported for different Rayleigh numbers and aspect ratio values. Correlations among penetration length, dimensionless time, Rayleigh number, and aspect ratio are evaluated for 102Ra104 and L/b=5, 10, and 20. At steady state regime, correlations for average Nusselt numbers and maximum dimensionless wall temperature in terms of Rayleigh number and aspect ratio are given for 102Ra104 and 5L/b20.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)815-842
Number of pages28
JournalNumerical Heat Transfer; Part A: Applications
Volume51
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Numerical Analysis
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Numerical investigation of transient natural convection in a horizontal channel heated from the upper wall'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this