HEAT-TRANSFER DUE TO BUOYANCY IN A PARTIALLY DIVIDED SQUARE BOX

The heat transfer and flow patterns in a partially divided square box have been studied numerically. The partial divider is thin, poorly conducting and projecting upwards from the floor of the enclosure. Three divider positions and divider heights (enclosure apertures) are considered. Results obtained are compared with published computational and experimental studies and provide a unifying picture of flow and heat transfer in partially divided enclosures. The thermal stratification between the divider and the cold wall is found to play a key role. At lower Rayleigh numbers (105-106) the flow is weak in this stratified region and a tendency for flow separation behind the divider is noted. At higher Rayleigh numbers (> 109) the stratification is significant in this region and causes the flow to detach directly from the cold wall causing a separation in front of the divider. The enclosure heat transfer is strongly influenced by the aperture ratio Ap (Nu ≈ A0.462p). However, the divider position has a rather small effect on the overall heat transfer from the enclosure. © 1990.