MIXED CONVECTION IN VERTICAL CHANNELS WITH A DISCRETE HEAT-SOURCE

Two dimensional laminar mixed convection flow in vertical channels with a discrete heat source was numerically analyzed. An isoflux discrete heating element was located on the left wall, while the isothermal conditions were imposed on the other wall. The governing equations were solved using a finite difference method based on the control volume approach. The mean Nusselt number was calculated and the maximum component temperature was determined. The computations were carried out for different Grashof number, Reynolds number, heater locations and the channel width. It was observed that the location of the heating element does not play a considerable role on the flow. At low Reynolds numbers (Re < 50), the mean Nusselt number and the maximum temperature are mainly controlled by the Grashof number. However, at higher Reynolds numbers, the Reynold number plays an important role on the flow. It was also found that at low Reynolds numbers, cooling is more effective when the channel width is large (W/H > 1). However, at high Reynolds numbers more effective cooling is obtained in narrow channels.