Numerical simulation of natural convection in an open-ended square cavity filled with porous medium by lattice Boltzmann method

In the present work, natural convection in an open-ended square cavity packed with porous medium is simulated. The double-population approach is used to simulate hydrodynamic and thermal fields, and the Taylor series expansion and the least-squares-based lattice Boltzmann method has been implemented to extend the thermal model. The effect of a porous medium is taken into account by introducing the porosity into the equilibrium distribution function and adding a force term to the evolution equation. The Brinkman–Forchheimer equation, which includes the viscous and inertial terms, is applied to predict the heat transfer and fluid dynamics in the non-Darcy regime. The present model is validated with the previous literature. A comprehensive parametric study of natural convective flows is performed for various values of Rayleigh number and porosity. It is found that these two parameters have considerable influence on heat transfer.     

Numerical study of mixed convection flows in a square lid-driven cavity utilizing nanofluid

A numerical investigation of laminar mixed convection flows through a copper–water nanofluid in a square lid-driven cavity has been executed. In the present study, the top and bottom horizontal walls are insulated while the vertical walls are maintained at constant but different temperatures. The study has been carried out for the Rayleigh number 10⁴ to 10⁶, Reynolds number 1 to 100 and the solid volume fraction 0 to 0.05. The thermal conductivity and effective viscosity of nanofluid have been calculated by Patel and Brinkman models, respectively. The effects of solid volume fraction of nanofluids on hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics have been investigated and discussed. It is found that at the fixed Reynolds number, the solid concentration affects on the flow pattern and thermal behavior particularly for a higher Rayleigh number. In addition it is observed that the effect of solid concentration decreases by the increase of Reynolds number.     

Numerical study of double diffusive natural convective heat and mass transfer in an inclined rectangular cavity filled with porous medium

Two-dimensional double-diffusive natural convective heat and mass transfer in an inclined rectangular porous medium has been investigated numerically. Two opposing walls of the cavity are maintained at fixed but different temperatures and concentrations; while the other two walls are adiabatic. The generalized model with the Boussinesq approximation is used to solve the governing equations. The flow is driven by a combined buoyancy effect due to both temperature and concentration variations. A finite volume approach has been used to solve the non-dimensional governing equations and the pressure velocity coupling is treated via the SIMPLER algorithm. The results are presented in streamline, isothermal, iso-concentration, Nusselt and Sherwood contours for different values of the non-dimensional governing parameters. A wide range of non-dimensional parameters have been used including, aspect ratio (2 ≤ A ≤ 5), angle of inclination of the cavity (0 ≤ ? ≤ 85), Lewis number (0.1 ≤ Le ≤ 10), and the buoyancy ratio (− 5 ≤ N ≤ 5).     

Numerical study of natural convection cooling of horizontal heat source mounted in a square cavity filled with nanofluid

This paper presents a numerical study of natural convection cooling of a heat source horizontally attached to the left vertical wall of a cavity filled with copper-water nanofluid. The left vertical wall is kept at the constant temperature, while the other ones are kept adiabatic. The numerical approach is based on the finite volume method with a collocated grid arrangement. The SIMPLE algorithm is used for handling the pressure velocity coupling. In this study, the influence of some effective parameters such as: Rayleigh number, location and geometry of heat source and solid concentration are studied and discussed. Results are presented in the form of streamlines, isotherms, and average Nusselt number. The results show that dimension of the heat source is an important parameter affecting the flow pattern and temperature field, so that the average Nusselt number decreases with an increase in the length of the heater. It is also observed that at a given Rayleigh number and definite heat source geometry, the average Nusselt number increases linearly with the increase in the solid volume fraction of nanofluid. The increase of Rayleigh numbers strengthens the natural convection flows which leads to the decrease in heat source temperature. The algorithm and the computer code have been also compared with numerical results in order to verify and validate the model.     

Free convection in a wavy cavity filled with a porous medium

The steady-state free convection inside a cavity made of two horizontal straight walls and two vertical bent-wavy walls and filled with a fluid-saturated porous medium is numerically investigated in the present paper. The wavy walls are assumed to follow a profile of cosine curve. The horizontal walls are kept adiabatic, while the bent-wavy walls are isothermal but kept at different temperatures. The Darcy and energy equations (in non-dimensional stream function and temperature formulation) are solved numerically using the Galerkin Finite Element Method (FEM). Flow and heat transfer characteristics (isothermal, streamlines and local and average Nusselt numbers) are investigated for some values of the Rayleigh number, cavity aspect ratio and surface waviness parameter. The present results are compared with those reported in the open literature for a square cavity with straight walls. It was found that these results are in excellent agreement.     

Numerical analysis of natural convection in an inclined trapezoidal enclosure filled with a porous medium

A theoretical study of buoyancy-driven flow and heat transfer in an inclined trapezoidal enclosure filled with a fluid-saturated porous medium heated and cooled from inclined walls has been performed in this paper. The governing non-dimensional equations were solved numerically using a finite-difference method. The effective governing parameters are: the orientation or inclination angle of the trapezoidal enclosure , which varies between 0° and 180°, the Rayleigh number Ra, which varies between 100 and 1000, the side wall inclination angle θ_s and the aspect ratio A. The side wall inclination parameter θ_s is chosen as 67°, 72° and 81° and the calculations are tested for two different values of A=0.5 and 1.0. Streamlines, isotherms, Nusselt number and flow strength are presented for these values of the governing parameters. The obtained results show that inclination angle is more influential on heat transfer and flow strength than that of the side wall inclination angle θ_s. It is also found that a Bénard regime occurs around =90°, which depends on the inclination of the side wall, Rayleigh number and aspect ratio.     

Free convection in a square cavity filled with a bidisperse porous medium

The classical problem of steady Darcy free convection in a square cavity filled with a porous medium has been extended to the case of a bidisperse porous medium (BDPM) by following the recent model proposed by Nield and Kuznetsov [D.A. Nield, A.V. Kuznetsov, Natural convection about a vertical plate embedded in a bidisperse porous medium, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 51 (2008) 1658–1664] and Rees et al. [D.A.S. Rees, D.A. Nield, A.V. Kuznetsov, Vertical free convective boundary-layer flow in a bidisperse porous medium, ASME J. Heat Transfer 130 (2008) 1–9]. The transformed partial differential equations in terms of the dimensionless stream function and temperature are solved numerically using a finite-difference method for some values of the governing parameters when the Rayleigh number Ra is equal to 10² and 10³. Results are presented for the flow field with streamlines, temperature field by isotherms and heat transfer by local and mean Nusselt numbers are presented for both the f- and p-phases. It is found that the most important parameters that influence the fluid flow and heat transfer are the inter-phase heat transfer parameter H and the modified thermal conductivity ratio parameter γ.     

Parametric study on mixed convection heat transfer in an inclined arc-shape cavity

This paper presents a parametric study on mixed convection heat transfer in an inclined arc-shape cavity subjected to a moving lid. The governing equations for the inclined arc-shape cavity were derived with the incorporation of inertia and buoyant force terms and solved by using the finite-volume method and numerical grid generation scheme. The parametric study considered three physical parameters including inclination angle, Reynolds number and Grashof number, and explored the effect of these parameters on the flow field and heat transfer characteristics. Computations were conducted for the Reynolds number ranging from 100 to 1500, Grashof number from 10⁵ to 10⁷ and inclination angle from 15⁰ to 60⁰. The numerical results show that the flow pattern becomes inertia-dominant and the strength of the primary vortex generally increases as the Reynlods number increases. As the Grashof number increases, the strength of the inertial-induced vortex decreases and the strength of the buoyancy-induced vortex increases. The strength of the vortexes decreases with the increasing inclination angle and the buoyancy-induced flow becomes more dominant. The average Nusselt number increases as the Grashof number increases for all the inclination angles studied here. The local friction increases with the increasing inclination angle, and becomes significant as the Grashof number increases.     

Numerical study of mixed convective cooling in a square cavity ventilated and partially heated from the below utilizing nanofluid

A numerical investigation of mixed convection flows through a copper–water nanofluid in a square cavity with inlet and outlet ports has been executed. The natural convection effect is attained by heating from the constant flux heat source which is symmetrical located at the bottom wall and cooling from the injected flow. The governing equations have been solved using the finite volume approach, using SIMPLE algorithm on the collocated arrangement. The study has been carried out for the Reynolds number in the range 50 ≤ Re ≤ 1000, with Richardson numbers 0 ≤ Ri ≤ 10 and for solid volume fraction 0 ≤ ? ≤ 0.05. The thermal conductivity and effective viscosity of nanofluid have been calculated by Patel and Brinkman models, respectively. Results are presented in the form of streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt number and average bulk temperature. In addition, the effects of solid volume fraction of nanofluids on the hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics have been investigated and discussed. The results indicate that increase in solid concentration leads to increase in the average Nusselt number at the heat source surface and decrease in the average bulk temperature.     

Natural convection in an open square cavity with slots

In this paper, we investigate heat transfer by natural convection in an open cavity in which a uniform heat flux is applied to the inside active wall facing the opening with slots. Conservation equations are solved by finite difference–control volume numerical method. The relevant governing parameters are: the Rayleigh numbers from 10³ to 10⁶, the Prandtl number, Pr = 0.7, constant for air, the cavity aspect ratio, A = L/H = 1. Number of slots N is varied from 2 to 8 and the dimensionless opening ratio OR from 0.1 to 0.6. We found that the Nusselt number and the volume flow rate are both increasing functions of the Rayleigh number; they are a decreasing function of the number of slots and increasing function of the opening ratio, though there is an optimum opening ratio at high Rayleigh numbers.     

Magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection in a horizontal channel with an open cavity

The development of magnetic field effect on mixed convective flow in a horizontal channel with a bottom heated open enclosure has been numerically studied. The enclosure considered has rectangular horizontal lower surface and vertical side surfaces. The lower surface is at a uniform temperature T_h while other sides of the cavity along with the channel walls are adiabatic. The governing two-dimensional flow equations have been solved by using Galarkin weighted residual finite element technique. The investigations are conducted for different values of Rayleigh number (Ra), Reynolds number (Re) and Hartmann number (Ha). Various characteristics such as streamlines, isotherms and heat transfer rate in terms of the average Nusselt number (Nu), the Drag force (D) and average bulk temperature (θ_av) are presented. The results indicate that the mentioned parameters strongly affect the flow phenomenon and temperature field inside the cavity whereas in the channel these effects are less significant.     

Numerical study of mixed convection in an inclined two sided lid driven cavity filled with nanofluid using two-phase mixture model

Mixed convection of a nanofluid consisting of water and SiO2 in an inclined enclosure cavity has been studied numerically. The left and right walls are maintained at different constant temperatures while upper and bottom insulated walls are moving lids. Two-phase mixture model has been used to investigate the thermal behaviors of the nanofluid for various inclination angles of enclosure ranging from θ = − 60° to θ = 60°, volume fraction from 0% to 8%, Richardson numbers varying from 0.01 to 100 and constant Grashof number 10⁴. The governing equations are solved numerically using the finite-volume approach. Results are presented in the form of streamlines, isotherms, distribution of nanoparticles and average Nusselt number. In addition, effects of solid volume fraction of nanofluids on the hydrodynamic and thermal characteristics have been investigated. The results reveal that addition of nanoparticles enhances heat transfer in the cavity remarkably and causes significant changes in the flow pattern. Besides, effect of inclination angle is more pronounced at higher Richardson numbers.     

Transient study of buoyancy-assisted mixed convection in laminar plane wall jet flow

A numerical investigation of two-dimensional transient buoyancy-assisted laminar plane wall jet flow has been conducted. The governing equations in the stream function-vorticity formulation have been solved by alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. The parameters used are Grashof number 10⁴ − 10⁷, Prandtl number 0.01, 0.71, 7.1, 10.0 and 15.0 with a constant Reynolds number 400. The plate is considered at a higher temperature and the fluid is assumed to be initially at a uniform cold temperature. The streamline, u-velocity and the isotherm contours are presented at different time levels. The time required for the average Nusselt number to attain a steady-state value decreases with increase in Grashof number.     

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of natural convection in an open ended cavity

Natural convection in an open ended cavity is simulated using Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). The paper is intended to address the physics of flow and heat transfer in open end cavities and close end slots. The flow is induced into the cavity by buoyancy force due to a heated vertical wall. Also, the paper demonstrated that open boundary conditions used at the opening of the cavity is reliable, where the predicted results are similar to conventional CFD method (finite volume method, FVM) predictions. Prandtl number (Pr) is fixed to 0.71 (air) while Rayleigh number (Ra) and aspect ratio (A) of the cavity are changed in the range of 10⁴–10⁶ and of 0.5–10, respectively. It is found that the rate of heat transfer deceases asymptotically as the aspect ratio increases and may reach conduction limit for large aspect ratio. The flow evaluation in the cavity starts with recirculation inside the cavity, as the time proceeds the flow inside the cavity communicates with the ambient.     

Influence of exit opening location on mixed convection in a channel with volumetric heat sources

Mixed convection heat transfer in a channel with volumetric heat source and different opening ratio at the exit has been analyzed numerically. Steady, laminar, two-dimensional model based on the finite-volume method is used for solving the mass, momentum and energy transfer governing equations. The flow is injected to the duct with a uniform velocity distribution. The problem is studied in three aspect ratios (A = 1, 3 and 5) and three opening cases as single opening near the ceiling, single opening near the bottom and double openings. The study is also tested for different Richardson numbers between 0.01 and 10. Streamlines, isotherms, Nusselt numbers and temperature profiles were obtained for indicated cases. It is found that both the Richardson number and the locations of exit openings have strong effects on flow and temperature distribution in the presence of volumetric heat sources. The highest heat transfer was formed when the outlet port is located onto top of vertical wall.     

Natural convection and its fractal for liquid freezing in a vertical cavity filled with porous medium

The numerical simulation for a freezing liquid-saturated porous media in a vertical cylindrical cavity under the third kind of thermal boundary condition is reported in this paper. It shows that the effect of natural convection in the liquid phase decreases the freezing layer thickness and the freezing front has a wave shape instead of a stable plane, with one or more pair of eddy cells. This indicates a fractal existence. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 28(3): 165–171, 1999     

Convective flow and heat transfer in a tall porous cavity side-cooled with temperature profile

Natural convection in an air-filled (Prandtl number = 0.7) porous cavity with profiled side cooling and constant bottom heating is investigated over the Rayleigh number range of 1×10⁴ to 1×10⁸ at two Darcy numbers: 1×10^-4 and 1×10^-6. The aspect ratio based on cavity height was varied from 0.5 to 0.1 to investigate penetration length according to linear or sinusoidal temperature profile. The general non-Darcy model adopted in this work was validated against experimental and theoretical results in the literature and Nusselt number was predicted within less than 3% in the worst case. The effect of left wall imposed temperature profile was investigated in detail. Different convective regimes were observed depending on the imposed profile. An active region was found to take place with the linear temperature profile and with extent proportional to Rayleigh number as predicted by scale analysis.     

Mixed convection boundary layer flow from a vertical flat plate embedded in a porous medium filled with nanofluids

The steady mixed convection boundary layer flow past a vertical flat plate embedded in a porous medium filled with nanofluids is studied using different types of nanoparticles as Cu (cuprom), Al₂O₃ (aluminium) and TiO₂ (titanium). The model used for the nanofluid is the one which incorporates only the nanoparticle volume fraction parameter. The basic partial equations are reduced to an ordinary differential equation which is solved numerically for some values of the volume fraction and mixed convection parameters. It is shown that the solution has two branches in a certain range of the parameters. The effects of these parameters on the velocity distribution are presented graphically.