Chimney effect in a “T” form cavity with heated isothermal blocks: The blocks height effect

In this paper, a numerical study of natural convection from a two dimensional “T” form cavity with rectangular heated blocks is conducted. The blocks are identical, and the domain presents a symmetry with respect to a vertical axis passing through the middle of the opening. The governing equations are solved using a control volume method, and the SIMPLER algorithm for the velocity–pressure coupling is employed. Special emphasis is given to detail the effect of Rayleigh number and block height on the heat transfer and the flow rate generated by the chimney effect. The results are given for the parameters of control as, 10⁴Ra3×10⁶, Pr=0.71, opening diameter (C=l^′/H^′=0.15), blocks gap (D=d^′/H^′=0.5) and blocks height (1/8B=h^′/H^′1/2). These results show that the heat transfer variation with Ra is in the same manner as those met in the case of the vertical smooth or ribbed channels.