Numerical simulation of time-dependent buoyant flows in an enclosed vertical channel

A time-accurate Finite Volume method is used to investigate the two-dimensional buoyant flow in a closed cabinet containing two vertical heating plates. These are parallel, and form a channel at the centre of the cabinet enclosure. The cases of isothermal plates, and of uniform heat generation within them, are both considered for two values, 1×10⁵ and 1×10⁷, of the leading non-dimensional parameter, the Grashof number. Air (Pr = 0.71) is considered as the working fluid. Transient and long term thermal and flow behaviours are investigated. Steady-state solutions are asymptotically found at the lower Gr-value. However, time-dependent long-term solutions are predicted at Gr = 1×10⁷. Received on 20 May 1998