Effect of Heat Source Position in Fluid Flow, Heat Transfer and Entropy Generation in a Naturally Ventilated Room

Abstract

In this study, a 3D numerical study of free ventilated room equipped with a discrete heat source was performed using the Finite Volume Method (FVM). To ensure good ventilation, two parallel openings were created in the room. A suction opening was located at the bottom of the left wall and another opening was located at the top of the opposite wall; the heat source was placed at various positions in order to compare the heating efficiency. The effects of Rayleigh number (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106) for six heater positions was studied. The results focus on the impact of these parameters on the particle trajectories, temperature fields and on the heat transfer inside the room. It was found that the position of the heater has a dramatic effect on the behavior and topography of the flow in the room. When the heat source was placed on the wall with the suction opening, two antagonistic behaviors were recorded: an improvement in heat transfer of about 31.6%, compared to the other positions, and a low Rayleigh number against 22% attenuation for high Ra values was noted.