Influence of insulated rectangular block on natural convection heat transfer within porous enclosure

Abstract

Numerical study has been performed to investigate the influence of rectangular block on mean Nusselt number of hot wall in a square cavity of porous media. Top and bottom walls are insulated and the right and left walls are cold and hot, respectively, at constant temperature which are heated differentially assuaging a steady condition. 4 distinct cases are introduced regarding the block position: The block at the bottom/top edge with variable distance from the hot wall and the block at the middle edge of bottom/top with variable height. Mean Nusselt numbers are normalized with the simple case of no insulated block. Results show a significant dependence of mean Nusselt on the block position. It also affects the dimensionless time to reach a steady status. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.