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Benchmark results for natural and mixed convection heat transfer in a cavity

Kerim Yapici (Department of Nanotechnology Engineering, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey)
Salih Obut (Energy Institute, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli, Turkey)

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow

ISSN: 0961-5539

Article publication date: 1 June 2015

409

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate steady, laminar natural and mixed convection heat transfer in a two-dimensional cavity by using a finite volume method with a fourth-order approximation of convective terms, with and without the presence of nanoparticles. Highly accurate benchmark results are also provided.

Design/methodology/approach

A finite volume method on a non-uniform staggered grid is used for the solution of two-dimensional momentum and energy conservation equations. Diffusion terms, in the momentum and energy equations, are approximated using second-order central differences, whereas a non-uniform four-point fourth-order interpolation (FPFOI) scheme is developed for the convective terms. Coupled mass and momentum conservation equations are solved iteratively using a semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equation method.

Findings

For the case of natural convection problem at high-Rayleigh numbers, grid density must be sufficiently high in order to obtain grid-independent results and capture reality of the physics. Heat transfer enhancement for natural convection is observed up to a certain value of the nanoparticle volume fraction. After that value, heat transfer deterioration is found with increasing nanoparticle volume fraction.

Originality/value

Developed a non-uniform FPFOI scheme. Highly accurate benchmark results for the heat transfer of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a cavity are provided.

Keywords

Citation

Yapici, K. and Obut, S. (2015), "Benchmark results for natural and mixed convection heat transfer in a cavity", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 998-1029. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-02-2014-0036

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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