Publication Cover
Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications
An International Journal of Computation and Methodology
Volume 66, 2014 - Issue 11
130
Views
8
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Passive Laminar Heat Transfer Across Porous Cavities Using the Thermal Non-Equilibrium Model

&
Pages 1173-1194 | Received 02 Aug 2013, Accepted 20 Jan 2014, Published online: 11 Aug 2014
 

Abstract

This work presents a study on laminar free convection within a square cavity filled with a fluid saturated porous medium. Macroscopic flow equations are obtained by volume-averaging local instantaneous continuity and momentum equations. The so-called “two-energy equation model” is used, in which distinct macroscopic equations are applied to the working fluid and the solid material. Transport equations are discretized using the control-volume method and the system of algebraic equations is relaxed via the SIMPLE (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations) algorithm. The effect of Ram on Nuw correctly predicted the enhancement of passive heat transfer across the cavity for increasing Ram. Increasing ks/kf enhances the conduction transport through the solid material and, consequently, dampens the overall Nusselt number, defined here as the ratio between conduction and convection mechanisms over conduction transport only. Further, results indicate that by increasing the void space within the porous material the overall Nusselt number is reduced rather than increased. Individual contributions to the average Nusselt number indicate that, although convection is enhanced with increasing porosity, the reduction of conduction heat transfer through the solid material is the controlling mechanics for Nuw as porosity increases. The results herein might contribute to design and optimization of passive heat transfer systems.

Notes

Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/unht.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.