Effect of thermal stratification on free convection in a fluid-saturated porous enclosure

Journal Article · Fri Aug 28 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Numerical Heat Transfer. Part A, Applications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10407789808913991· OSTI ID:665299

Kumar, B V.R.; Singh, P ^[1]

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1. Indian Inst. of Tech., Kanpur (India). Dept. of Mathematics and Scientific Computing

Natural convection heat transfer from an isothermal vertical surface in a fluid-saturated porous medium under the influence of thermal stratification has been numerically analyzed using the finite element method. The combined effect of Rayleigh number and thermal stratification on the global heat flux in porous cavities of varying aspect ratios has been analyzed. It is observed that the global heat flux (1) decreases with increasing values of the thermal stratification b and (2) increases with increasing values of Rayleigh number Ra. However, the cumulative heat flux along the midsegment of the vertical wall increases with increasing b and decreases with Ra. With increasing b, a reduction in the convection zone with a downward drift is noticed. Global heat flux can be boosted by reducing the width L of the cavity by a factor of {approximately}8 or more. The flow field and the heat transfer results are presented through the streamlines, isotherms, and global heat flux plots.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 665299
• Journal Information: Numerical Heat Transfer. Part A, Applications, Journal Name: Numerical Heat Transfer. Part A, Applications Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 34; ISSN NHAAES; ISSN 1040-7782
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
NATURAL CONVECTION
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
POROUS MATERIALS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS