Natural Convection in a Vertical Rectangular Cavity Filled with a Non-Newtonian Power Law Fluid and Subjected to a Horizontal Temperature Gradient

• Published in: Numerical heat transfer. Part A, Applications Vol. 49; no. 10; pp. 969 - 990
• Main Authors: Lamsaadi, M., Naïmi, M., Hasnaoui, M., Mamou, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.2006; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Convection and heat transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Laminar flows; Laminar flows in cavities; Non-newtonian fluid flows; Physics; Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer; Power law fluid; Temperature distribution; Streamlines; Digital simulation; Boundary conditions; Natural convection; Modelling; Non-Newtonian fluids; Aspect ratio; Cavity flow; Heat transfer; Finite difference method
• ISSN: 1040-7782; 1521-0634
• DOI: 10.1080/10407780500324988

A study of natural convection, in a vertical rectangular cavity filled with a non-Newtonian fluid and subjected to uniform heat flux along the vertical side walls, is carried out numerically by solving the full governing equations. In the limit of a tall enclosure, these equations are considerably reduced by using the parallel flow approximation. Solutions for the flow and temperature fields, and the heat transfer rate, are obtained as functions of the governing parameters. Good agreement is found between the results of the two approaches for a wide range of governing parameters.