The effect of localized heating in rectangular channels was studied by solving the partial differential equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy numerically using an unsteady state formulation and the alternating-direction-implicit method. The heating element was a long, horizontal, isothermal strip located in one, otherwise-insulated vertical wall. The opposing wall was maintained at a lower uniform temperature and the upper and lower surfaces were insulated or maintained at the lower temperature. Computations were carried out for Pr = 0.7, 0 ≤ Ra ≤ 105, a complete range of heater widths and locations and a wide range of aspect ratios. Flow visualization studies and comparison with prior computed results for a limiting case confirm the validity of the computed values. The computed rates of heat transfer and circulation provide guidance for locating heaters or coolers.
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The Effect of Heater Size, Location, Aspect Ratio, and Boundary Conditions on Two-Dimensional, Laminar, Natural Convection in Rectangular Channels
H. H.-S. Chu,
H. H.-S. Chu
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
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S. W. Churchill,
S. W. Churchill
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
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C. V. S. Patterson
C. V. S. Patterson
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
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H. H.-S. Chu
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
S. W. Churchill
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
C. V. S. Patterson
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
J. Heat Transfer. May 1976, 98(2): 194-201 (8 pages)
Published Online: May 1, 1976
Article history
Received:
June 2, 1975
Online:
August 11, 2010
Citation
Chu, H. H., Churchill, S. W., and Patterson, C. V. S. (May 1, 1976). "The Effect of Heater Size, Location, Aspect Ratio, and Boundary Conditions on Two-Dimensional, Laminar, Natural Convection in Rectangular Channels." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. May 1976; 98(2): 194–201. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3450518
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