Numerical predictions of two-dimensional conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer. II. Validation

This paper presents several test problems that were used to validate the formulation and implementation of a CVFEM for combined-mode heat transfer in participating media. The objective here is to demonstrate that the proposed CVFEM can be used to solve combined modes of heat transfer in media that emit, absorb, and scatter radiant energy in regularly- and irregularly-shaped geometries. The paper first assesses briefly the CVFEM for the solution of convection-diffusion problems, then attention is focused on radiative heat transfer problems. Finally, several combined mode problems are investigated. Results show that the proposed method adequately solves the governing equations (energy and RTE): as the solutions compare favorably with those obtained with other acknowledged methods or with analytical solutions, when available. The proposed CVFEM could, however, be improved to broaden its scope of application and enhance its numerical efficiency. In a near future, the method will be combined with a code already established for fluid flow calculations. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.