Numerical Analysis of Mixed Convection Coupled with Thermal Radiation in a Ventilated Channel Containing Various Heat-Generating Blocks

In this study, thermal radiation and mixed convection in a ventilated horizontal channel are analyzed. The channel contains five cylindrical blocks that produce different volumetric heat rates. The channel is ventilated by two openings; the inlet is located on the left wall, and the outflow is on the top one. All the channel walls are adiabatic, except for the upper wall, which is held at a constant low temperature of TC = 20 ℃. To numerically solve the differential equations governing the current problem, a numerical code based on the finite volume approach and the SIMPLE algorithm is utilized. The discrete ordinate method is used to discretize the radiative transfer equation. The impacts of the Reynolds number and the emissivity of the surfaces on the heat transfer and fluid flow are analyzed. The numerical simulations indicate that increasing the Reynolds number or the emissivity considerably decreases the maximum temperature in the cavity and improves the performance of the considered system.