Investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer in a vertical channel heated from one side by PV elements, part I - Numerical Study

The impetus of this paper is to analyse numerically the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of buoyancy-driven convection between two vertical parallel walls, heated from one side. Both convection and radiation heat exchanges are considered as the heat transfer mechanisms by which the thermal energy is transferred into the air. A steady-state two-dimensional model is used for the analysis. Numerical results are derived for a channel of 6.5 m in height and different widths of the channel. Various heat fluxes are considered in order to show the effect of the input heat on the heat transfer across the air layer. Detailed studies of the flow and thermal fields in the air are presented in order to explore the thermal behavior of air in the channel. Velocity and temperature profiles of the outlet air and the surface temperature of the heated and insulated wall are presented. In Part II of this paper the findings from an experimental study are reported.