Visualization of Conjugate Natural Convection in a Square Enclosure Divided by Conducting Partition

Simulation of conjugate natural convection in a square enclosure with a partition placed at the middle of the enclosure has been performed on FlexPDE 6.19 Student Version. The partition divides the enclosure into two regions and each region is filled with fluid-saturated porous media.The purpose of this study is to investigate the flow field and temperature distribution regarding the change of governing parameters, Rayleigh number (Ra), thermal conductivity ratio (k) and partition thickness (D). It is found that the intensity of circulation increases as Ra or k increases, simultaneously, the increase of k results in the lower temperature distribution along the partition. Moreover, partition thickness reduces the temperature distribution along the right-hand side of partition when the convection is obstructed.

Keywords: Conjugate natural convection, porous media, finite element method, partitioned enclosure

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