A finite element analysis on combined convection and conduction in a channel with a thick walled cavity

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of thick wall parameters of a cavity on combined convection in a channel. In other words, conjugate heat transfer is solved.

Design/methodology/approach

Galerkin weighted residual finite element method is used to solve the governing equations of mixed convection.

Findings

The streamlines, isotherms, local and average Nusselt numbers are obtained and presented for different parameters. It is found heat transfer is an increasing function of dimensionless thermal conductivity ratio.

Originality/value

The literature does not have mixed convection and conjugate heat transfer problem in a channel with thick walled cavity.

Citation

Rahman, M.M., Oztop, H., Mekhilef, S., Saidur, R., Chamkha, A., Ahsan, A. and S. Al-Salem, K. (2014), "A finite element analysis on combined convection and conduction in a channel with a thick walled cavity", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 24 No. 8, pp. 1888-1905. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-07-2013-0239