ANALYSIS OF THREE DIMENSIONAL NATURAL CONVECTION IN A SQUARE ENCLOSURE

Abstract

The solution of three dimensional Navier-Stokes and energy equations for the problem of natural convection in a square enclosure as a result of differential side heating has been obtained numerically. Two cases were studied for different values of Grashof numbers (103, 104, 106). The effect of Prandtl number and aspect ratio on the flow and thermal field is also verified. Fully elliptic laminar Navier-Stokes equations are solved using primitive variables method with finite volume technique. The results show that the secondary flow region is increased with increasing in Grashof number. Also the results show that the central core region is increased with the increase in Prandtl number. The predicted results are compared with published results and found to be in good agreement.