A NUMERICAL STUDY OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL NATURAL CONVECTION IN SQUARE OPEN CAVITIES

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Abstract
A numerical study of natural convection in a two-dimensional square open cavity under laminar steady-state conditions has been performed. The square cavity has one heated vertical wall facing a vertical opening and two insulated horizontal walls. Results are obtained for Rayleigh numbers ranging from 103 to 109 at unit Prandtl number with constant properties and the Boussinesq approximation. Heat transfer results approach those for an isothermal vertical flat plate at high Rayleigh numbers. Streamline and isotherm plots illustrate the effect of the open boundary on the basic flow patterns. A recirculation zone is found at high Rayleigh numbers above the bottom wall due to incoming flow turning around the corner. Thermally stratified flow below the top wall exits to form a wall plume.

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