TURBULENT MIXED CONVECTION FLOW IN RECTANGULARENCLOSURES

Abstract

This study involves a numerical investigation ofturbulent, mixed convection flow within a rectangular enclosure. Previous numerical and experimental research conducted at McMasterUniversity, Hamilton (Canada) found that the influence ofbuoyancy was generally overpredicted when the standard k-e low-Reynolds number turbulence model was employed. The main purpose ofthis study is to determine the effect ofrepresenting the turbulent heat flux components using the more physically realistic Algebraic Heat Flux Model (AFM). The AFM model is shown to have a significant effect on the turbulence parameters involved leading to even higher rates ofheat transfer arid buoyant influence than the standard eddy Viscosity representation for all test cases. As a secondary study, the sensitivity ofthe predicted results to the choice ofinlet turbulence conditions is considered. The results show that the choice ofinlet conditions can have a significant effect on the predicted flow field and therefore must be accurately selected when dealing with thistype offlow