Experimental Study

The heat transfer across an air-filled partitioned square enclosure is studied experimen-tally using a differential interferometer. The partition was located centrally inside the enclosure, parallel to the two isothermal differentially heated vertical walls, and extended the full height of the enclosure. The top and bottom horizontal walls of the enclosure were maintained adiabatic. A parametric study has been carried out using different partitions, focusing attention on the effect of partition thermal resistance as well as the interaction of surface radiation and natural convection, and on the total heat transfer between the vertical walls, inside the enclosure. Correlations, valid for the laminar range, are proposed