Experimental Methodology for the Study of Natural Convection on Flat and Corrugated Plates

Abstract

Natural convection is present in the most different Thermal Engineering systems, such as solar collectors, electric furnaces, electronic equipment cooling, lubrication, thermal comfort projects in buildings, etc. In the last decade, the number of research on natural convection heat transfer has increased considerably, especially in the areas of physical-numerical modeling and validation, experimental construction and efficiency optimization of thermal systems, and related technologies. This work presents an experimental methodology for studying natural convection on flat and corrugated plates. The design and construction stages of the experimental apparatus, data processing and analysis, physical-mathematical modeling and uncertainty analysis were extensively explored. The applications and extensions of the proposed methodology were discussed in the numerical-experimental validation of physical-numerical modeling methodologies, design and optimization of the experimental apparatus and also of measuring instruments and, finally, in sensitivity analysis studies to reduce the propagation of uncertainties. The limitations of the proposed methodology were discussed, pointing out suggestions for future work.

Numerical and experimental study of natural convection heat transfer on flat and corrugated plates

“…This work continues the analytical, numerical and experimental studies of natural convection heat transfer process on plates, flat and with corrugations, reported by Verderio et al (2021a, 2021b, 2021c, 2021d, 2022a). These works served as a foundation and conceptual basis for the definition of the physical-mathematical and numerical modeling of the problem, development of the numerical methodology (with physical-numerical validation of the main parameters and physical models used), planning and construction of the experimental set-up and experimental investigation.…”

“…After the linear calibration, the initial cooling period, in which there are still temperature differences in the measurements of the different sensors under the plate, is discarded. After t≃1800 s, the spatial temperature gradients become negligible, and the measured temperatures are considered uniform for the analysis reported below (Verderio et al , 2021d for additional details). In each test, the cooling period considered in the analysis is subdivided into five intervals, each one corresponding to a decrease of 5°C in the temperature of the plate.…”

“…Verderio et al (2021c) analytically developed a dimensionless formulation for the transport equations and turbulence models κ − ε and κ − ω SST turbulence models for the study of turbulent natural convection. Also, in an analytical study, Verderio et al (2021d) developed a physical-mathematical formulation and an experimental approach for investigating natural convection on flat plates and plates with corrugations. Finally, in a case study, Verderio et al (2022a) numerically evaluated the relevance of various numerical parameters in physical-mathematical-numerical modeling and solution of the turbulent natural convection over square corrugations isothermal plates with of high Rayleigh number.…”

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Purpose -The purpose of this study is to numerically and experimentally investigate the natural convection heat transfer in flat plates and plates with square, trapezoidal and triangular corrugations.Design/methodology/approach -This work is an extension of the previous studies by Verderio et al (2021aVerderio et al ( , 2021bVerderio et al ( , 2021cVerderio et al ( , 2021dVerderio et al ( , 2022a). An experimental apparatus was built to measure the plates' temperatures during the natural convection cooling process.

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“…Design/methodology/approach -This work is an extension of the previous studies by Verderio et al (2021aVerderio et al ( , 2021bVerderio et al ( , 2021cVerderio et al ( , 2021dVerderio et al ( , 2022a). An experimental apparatus was built to measure the plates' temperatures during the natural convection cooling process.…”