Natural convection and entropy generation in a three dimensional volumetrically heated and partially divided cavity

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution for natural convection in a cavity with a partial heater in case of volumetric heating and analysis of the entropy generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The control volume method based on three-dimensional (3D) vorticity-potential vector was applied to solve governing equations of natural convection in a 3D cavity with a fin for different governing parameters as external Rayleigh numbers (103=Ra_E=106), internal Rayleigh numbers 103=Ra_I=106, partition height (0.25=h=0.75) and partition location (0.25=c=0.75). A code was written by using Fortran platform.

Findings

The edge of the fin becomes important on entropy generation. The ratio of the Ra_I/Ra_E plays the important role on natural convection and entropy generation. The variation of external Rayleigh number becomes insignificant for the Ra_I/Ra_E>1.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is to analyze the entropy generation and natural convection in a cubical cavity with volumetrically heating.

Citation

Kolsi, L., Abu-Hamdeh, N., Öztop, H.F., Alghamdi, A., Mohamad Naceur, B. and Ben Assia, H. (2016), "Natural convection and entropy generation in a three dimensional volumetrically heated and partially divided cavity", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 26 No. 8, pp. 2492-2508. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-09-2015-0358