Analysis of Mixed Convection in Vertical Convergent Channels

Air mixed convection in a convergent channel with the two principal flat plates at uniform heat flux is analyzed numerically. In the considered system two parallel adiabatic extensions are placed downstream the convergent channel. The forced flow is obtained by imposing a pressure drop between the inlet and the outlet of the channel. The flow in the channel is assumed to be two-dimensional, turbulent and incompressible. A k-ε turbulent model is employed. Results in terms of dimensionless wall temperature distribution as a function of the walls converging angle, the Grashof number and the pressure drop are presented in the ranges: 0 ≤ ΔP ≤ 2.2·10⁷, 2.8·10⁴ ≤ Gr ≤ 2.1·10⁵. Results show that increasing the angle of converging the Reynolds number increases at the same pressure drop. The larger the pressure drop the smaller the contribution of the free convection to the Reynolds number. Increasing the converging angle only slightly increases the ΔP value for which the effect of free convection is negligible.