Thermally Optimum Spacing between Inner Plates in Natural Convection Flows in Cavities by Numerical Investigation

Processes

卷:8

Blas Zamora¹ 

[1] Department of Thermal and Fluids Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Doctor Fleming s/n, 30202 Cartagena, Spain;

关键词: convective flow;    square cavity;    variable thermophysical properties;    thermal optimization;    computational fluid dynamics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pr8050554

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Buoyancy-driven airflow that included two isothermal inner plates established in a vented cavity is investigated numerically. The thermally optimum wall-to-wall spacing of the immersed channel, as well as its dependence with respect to the relevant governing parameters, are determined. Results are presented as a function of the aspect ratio b/H for a wide range of Rayleigh numbers Ra_H. A logarithmic correlation for the optimum (b/H)_opt as a function of Ra_H is presented. In addition, since the outlined configuration might be subject to intense heating conditions, the influence of considering variable thermophysical properties is also included in the analysis. In fact, an appreciable influence of the variation of properties on (b/H)_opt is also detected for a representative value of Ra_H = 10⁹. Obtained results can be directly applied to the optimization of electronic equipment cooling, or even to thermal passive devices in buildings.

【 授权许可】

Unknown