Natural Convection in an Array of Vertical Channels with Two-Dimensional Heat Sources: Uniform and Non-Uniform Plate Heating

Abstract

An experimental and numerical analysis was performed to investigate the conjugated conduction–convection heat transfer problem in an array of vertical, parallel plates forming open channels with heated protruding elements attached to one of the walls. Uniform and non-uniform heating of the plates was analyzed. Both the distance between plates and power dissipated per plate was varied. In non-uniform heating in each plate and for a specified total heat generation rate, one element was electrically supplied with a different power level from the others, and the influence of the location of this element on the temperature distribution was investigated. The SIMPLEC algorithm, based on the finite volume method, was used to solve the pressure velocity coupling. Numerical and experimental temperature profiles were compared and good agreement was observed.

The authors acknowledge to FAPESP for their financial support and CENAPAD-SP for computer support.