Experimental investigation of mixed convection heat transfer in a rectangular channel with discrete heat sources at the top and at the bottom

Mixed convection heat transfer in a top and bottom heated rectangular channel with discrete heat sources has been investigated experimentally for air. The lower and upper surfaces of the channel were equipped with 8 X 4 flush-mounted heat sources subjected to uniform heat flux. Sidewalls, the lower and upper walls were insulated and adiabatic. The experimental study was made for an aspect ratio of AR=6, Reynolds numbers 955 <= Re-Dh <= 2220 and modified Grashof numbers Gr* = 1.7 X 10(7) to 6.7 x 10(7). From experimental measurements, surface temperature and Nusselt number distributions of the discrete heat sources were obtained for different Grashof numbers. Furthermore, Nusselt number distributions were calculated for different Reynolds numbers. Results show that surface temperatures increase with increasing Grashof number. The row-averaged Nusselt numbers first decrease with the row number and then, due to the increase in the buoyancy affected secondary flow and the onset of instability, they show an increase towards the exit as a result of heat transfer enhancement. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.