NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF THE NATURAL-CONVECTION IN A CAVITY WITH NONUNIFORM INTERNAL SOURCES

A numerical code based on the SIMPLE algorithm and defined on a nonstaggered grid was used to simulate the natural convection in a cavity heated by the nonuniform absorption of radiation entering through part of the surface. After the code was validated against laboratory experiments, it was used to extend the results over a larger range of radiation parameters than were available in the laboratory. The extended results were used to derive empirical relations that could be used to predict the intrusion velocities and time scales in small lakes.