Conjugate heat transfer in square enclosures

Building elements represented by square vertical enclosures encircled with finite walls or with centered solid body, could maintain the equivalent fluid volumes through the volume ratio scale. Present work aims to investigate the fluid flow and heat transfer in these two building elements. Complete two-dimensional numerical simulation of the conjugate heat conduction and natural convection occurring in both enclosures is carried out. An analytical expression for the minimum size of the inserted body at which the body begins to suppress the natural convection flow is proposed and validated by the numerical results. The fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed through the streamlines, heatlines, and total heat transfer rates across both enclosures. Results reveal that heat transfer rates across both enclosures are complex functions of the volume ratio scale, Rayleigh number, and the relative thermal conductivity.