Numerical Analysis of Natural Convection in a Concentric Trapezoidal Enclosure Filled with a Porous Medium

Abstract

Numerical study of natural convection around a heated trapezoidal block of different sizes located centrically in a larger trapezium has been investigated. The annulus between the trapeziums is filled with porous media. The sides of the inner trapezium are heated to a fixed temperature (T_h), and the slanted walls of the outer trapezium are adiabatic while its upper and lower walls are heated to temperatures of 〖T_c+(T_h-T_c)sin〗⁡(πx⁄L) and 〖T_h+(T_h-T_c)sin〗⁡(πx⁄L) respectively. The finite element numerical approach was used to solve the relevant dimensionless equations. Results are gotten for salient parameters including; modified Rayleigh number (10≤Ra_m≤ 1000), Darcy number (10^(-5)≤Da≤ 10^(-2)), and area ratio (1/5≤AR≤ 1/3). The results of this study are shown as isothermal contours, stream functions, and average Nusselt number. The results show that increasing Ra_m improves heat transfer; however, the response of thermal characteristics to AR increment depends on the range of Darcy number considered. Results from this study find application in ingot treatments and microchannel cooling among others.

Analysis of Natural Convective Flow of Casson Fluid around an Inclined Rectangular Cylinder

“…The stream function equation, which is a consequence of the relationship between the velocity components of the two-dimensional flow is as expressed in equation ( 11) [53]:…”