Numerical Study of Free Convection Heat Transfer in a Square Cavity with a Fin Attached to Its Cold Wall

摘要

Fluid flow and natural convection heat transfer in a differentially heated square cavity with a fin attached to its cold wall is investigated numerically. The top and the bottom horizontal walls of the cavity are insulated while the left and right vertical walls of the cavity are maintained at a constant temperature T_h and T_c, with T_h > T_c, respectively. The governing equations written in terms of the primitive variables are solved numerically using the finite volume method and the SIMPLER algorithm. Using the developed code, a parametric study is performed, and the effects of the Rayleigh number, length of the fin and its position on the flow pattern and heat transfer inside the enclosure are investigated. The results show that for high Rayleigh numbers, a longer fin placing at the middle of the right wall has a more remarkable effect on the flow field and heat transfer inside the cavity.