Laminar mixed convection in the entrance region of shrouded arrays of heated rectangular blocks

Abstract

Laminar mixed convection in the entrance region of shrouded arrays of heated rectangular blocks is approximated numerically for large Prandtl number fluids. The problem considered is related to the convective cooling of electronic components mounted on horizontal circuit boards. Two heating conditions are investigated; in case 1, the uniformly heated components are facing upwards and, in case 2, the heated components are facing downwards. Typical fluid streamlines and isotherms, block wall temperature distributions and local Nusselt numbers are presented. It is found that the secondary flow leads to a significant enhancement in heat transfer for cases where the block faces upwards rather than downwards.

Combined buoyancy effects of thermal and mass diffusion on laminar forced convection in the thermal entrance region of horizontal square channels

“…with a uniform wall heat flux. Lin et al (1988b) investigated laminar mixed convection heat transfer in shrouded arrays of heated rectangular blocks, and Lin and Chou (1989) examined buoyancy effects on forced convection in the thermal entrance region of horizontal isothermal channels. Several experimental studies of mixed convection flow in the thermal entrance or combined entry regions of horizontal parallel plate channels have been well undertaken (Hwang and Liu, 1976;Incropera et al, 1987;Kamotani et al, 1979;Maughan and Incropera, 1987).…”