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Article
Laminar Natural Convection in a Discretely Heated Cavity: II—Comparisons of Experimental and Theoretical Results
Journal of Heat Transfer (1995)
  • Theodore J. Heindel, Purdue University
  • F. P. Incropera, Purdue University
  • S. Ramadhyani, Purdue University
Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical predictions and experimental data have been obtained for natural convection from a 3 × 3 array of discrete heat sources flush-mounted on one vertical wall of a rectangular cavity and cooled by the opposing wall. Predictions performed in a companion paper (Heindel et al., 1995a) revealed that three-dimensional edge effects are significant and that, with increasing Rayleigh number, flow and heat transfer become more uniform across each heater face. The three-dimensional predictions are in excellent agreement with the data of this study, whereas a two-dimensional model of the experimental geometry underpredicts average heat transfer by as much as 20 percent. Experimental row-averaged Nusselt numbers are well correlated with a Rayleigh number exponent of 0.25 for RaLz ≲ 1.2 × 108 .

Keywords
  • natural convection,
  • cavities,
  • heat transfer,
  • rayleigh number,
  • flow (dynamics),
  • heat,
  • geometry
Publication Date
November 1, 1995
Publisher Statement
Copyright 1995 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Citation Information
Theodore J. Heindel, F. P. Incropera and S. Ramadhyani. "Laminar Natural Convection in a Discretely Heated Cavity: II—Comparisons of Experimental and Theoretical Results" Journal of Heat Transfer Vol. 117 Iss. 4 (1995)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/theodore_heindel/20/