NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FLOW THROUGH A CAVITY WITH INTERNAL HEAT GENERATION

Abstract

Laminar flow through a two-dimensional square cavity in which internal (volumetric) heat generation takes place is analyzed numerically. The inflow is a horizontal jet at the bottom of the cavity, and the outlet is at the top, in a centered position. As the internal heat generation rate is increased, several flow patterns appear, in particular periodic and quasi-periodic in time flows. Two distinct regimes are identified, one dominated by inertia in which significant hot-fluid trapping occurs, and another, stratified regime, in which buoyancy effects are dominant. The effects of Reynolds number, Prandtl number, horizontal heat generation inhomogeneities, and wall boundary conditions are assessed. Of technological importance is the inertia-dominated regime, as temperatures much higher than the mean outflow temperature appear.