Natural convection in a square enclosure with a cold source

A study of natural convection heat transfer in a square enclosure is reported. Air flow in the enclosure is modeled as a two-dimensional turbulent flow, with turbulent transport described by the standard k - epsilon turbulence model. Boundary conditions in temperature are constant temperature at cold-wall, constant heat transfer coefficient at hot-wall, and insulation in the other two sides. PHOENICS CFD software package is used for required calculations. The results include the relation equation between mean Nusselt number and Rayleigh number, (N) over bar u = 0.176Ra(0.146) (hW/k(f))(0.502), for 10(9) less than or equal to Ra less than or equal to 10(11) and 1W/m(2) K less than or equal to h less than or equal to 10@/m(2)K, and a comparison with the basic studies of constant temperature at hot-wall published in the literature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.