Numerical investigation of heat transfer from heat sources placed in a horizontal rectangular channel

Abstract

In this study, three dimensional mixed convection heat transfer from discrete heat sourcesplaced in a horizontal rectangular channel has been investigated numerically. 8x4 flushmounted discrete heat sources were mounted on the lower and upper surfaces of the channel.Air is used as working fluid (Pr0.7). The heaters at the bottom and at the top wall were keptat a constant heat flux. Side walls, upper and lower walls are insulated and consideredadiabatic. Nusselt number distributions and the effect of the Grashof number (5.8x106≤ Gr* ≤2.3x107) and Reynolds number (150 ≤ Re ≤ 971) on the buoyancy-driven secondary flow havebeen investigated. Distributions of velocity vectors and temperature contours have beendetermined by the numerical method, and the results have been presented in detail. Governingequations were solved by the control volume method using suitable boundary conditions. Thenumerical parametric study was made for aspect ratio of AR=8, at various Reynolds andGrashof numbers.