Numerical Investigation of Flow and Heat Transfer over a Shallow Cavity: Effect of Cavity Height Ratio

Flow over shallow cavities is used to model the flow field and heat transfer in a solar collector variety of engineering applications. Many studies have been conducted demonstrate effect cavity aspect ratio (AR), but very few carried out investigate height (HR) on behavior. In this paper, structure within 3-D are obtained numerically for two categories: HR = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5. The governing equations, continuity, momentum, energy solved using standard (K-ε) turbulence model. ANSYS FLUENT 14 CFD code perform numerical simulation based finite volume method. study, ratio, AR 5.0, Reynolds number, Re 3 × 105, parameters fixed. cavity’s bottom wall heated with constant uniform flux (q 740 W/m2), while other walls assumed be adiabatic. For current number geometry, single vortex (recirculation region) formed occupies most volume. shape location differ according ratio. A reverse velocity profile across recirculation region near shown at all ratios. Streamlines temperature contours plane symmetry displayed. Local static pressure coefficient Nusselt profiles along wall, average various ratios established. an important geometry parameter cavities, it plays significant role behavior characteristics. results indicate interesting dynamics (HR), which includes minimal value ≈ 1.75 spatial transitions local distribution different HRs.