Natural Convection in Inclined Porous Square Enclosure

Abstract

Steady, laminar, natural convection flow in porous square enclosure with inclination angle is considered. The enclosure is filled with air and subjected to horizontal temperature gradient. Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model is considered. Finite volume method is used to solve the dimensionless governing equations. The physical problem depends on five parameters: Rayleigh number (Ra =103-106), Prandtl number (Pr=0.71), Darcy number (Da=0.01), inclination angle φ=(0°-227°), porosity of the medium (ɛ=0.7) and the aspect ratio of the enclosure (A=1). The main focus of the study is on examining the effect of Rayleigh number on fluid flow and heat transfer rates. The effect of inclination angle is also considered. The results including streamlines, isotherm patterns, flow velocity and the average Nusselt number for different values of Ra and φ. The obtained results show that the increase of Ra leads to enhance heat transfer rate. The fluid particles move with greater velocity for higher thermal Rayleigh number. Also φ affects the fluid motion and heat transfer in the enclosure. Velocity and heat transfer are more important when φ takes the value (30°).