Numerical Investigation of Natural Convection in a Square Enclosure with a Baffle Mounted on Vertical Wall

Abstract:

Results from numerical investigation of laminar natural convection inside a differentially heated square enclosure with a thin baffle attached to the cold wall are reported. The effect of the baffles on the flow and temperature fields were analyzed for baffle lengths equal to 20, 35 and 50 percent of the width of the enclosure, attached at three locations for Ra = 10⁴, 10⁵, 10⁶ and Pr = 0.707. The presence of a baffle on the cold right wall affects the strength of the clockwise rotating primary vortex. Reduced flow and heat transfer are observed. Longer the baffle more pronounced the effect on the flow field. Secondary convection cells are seen between the baffle and the bottom wall for certain cases. Reduction in average Nusselt Number is observed on the cold wall with the baffle than the hot wall.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 813-814)
• Pages: 748-753
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.813-814.748
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: N. Nagasubramanian, M.R. Thansekhar*, M. Venkatesan, K. Ramanathan
• Keywords: Baffle, Enclosure, Free Convection, Heat Transfer, Nusselt Number

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