TY  - EJOU
AU  - Alami, M. El  
AU  - Semma, E. A.  
AU  - Najam, M.  
AU  - Boutarfa, R.  

TI  - Numerical Study of Convective Heat Transfer in a Horizontal Channel
T2  - Fluid Dynamics \& Materials Processing

PY  - 2009
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
SN  - 1555-2578

AB  - This study is devoted to the investigation of natural convection in a two dimensional horizontal channel with rectangular heated blocks at the bottom. The aspect ratio of the channel is <i>A = L'/H'</i> = 5. The blocks are heated with a constant temperature while the upper plane of the channel is cold. The governing equations are solved using a finite volumes method and the SIMPLEC algorithm is used for the treatment of the pressure-velocity coupling. Special emphasis is given to detail the effect of the Rayleigh number and blocks height on the heat transfer and the mass flow rate generated by natural convection. Results are given for the following values of control parameters: Rayleigh number (5×10<sup>3</sup> ≤ <i>Ra</i> ≤ 7×10<sup>5</sup>), Prandtl number Pr=0.71, opening width (<i>C = l'/H'</i> = 0.15), blocks gap (<i>D = d'/H'</i> = 0.5) and blocks height (<i>B = h'/H</i> = 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8).
KW  - Heat transfer
KW  -  horizontal channel
KW  -  isothermal blocks
KW  -  natural convection
KW  -  chimney effect

DO  - 10.3970/fdmp.2009.005.023