Multicellular Convection Flow and Heat Transfer in a Tall Vertical Cavity with a Linear Temperature Profile on Both Sidewalls

Abstract

Laminar natural convection of air in a vertical cavity, of aspect ratio A = 40 with linear temperature profiles on both sidewalls, is studied. Two new situations are explored, both temperature profiles have the same (case I) or opposite (case II) slopes γ, and their averages are at the mid-height of sidewalls. The effect of the Rayleigh numbers Ra _m at the mid-height and the slopes on the multicellular flow and heat transfer is investigated. Depending on the values of γ and Ra _m , the results may be quite different from those of the classical case corresponding to a zero slope. Two precise correlations which give the average heat transfer as a function of γ and Ra _m are also developed for both cases.

Notes

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