Mixed convection and radiation in cavities driven by shear and buoyancy

Theoretical and experimental investigations have been performed to gain fundamental understanding of mixed convection flow and heat transfer in rectangular, horizontal shallow and vertical narrow cavities. Experiments were conducted in a 30 x 10 x 5.1 cm$\sp3$ cavity with air as the working fluid. Shear was imposed by a moving belt at the bottom of the horizontal cavity or the left side of the narrow vertical cavity. Different temperature boundary conditions were imposed to study the interaction of the buoyancy and shear forces and to investigate the effects of the Reynolds and Grashof numbers governing the transport processes in the cavity. Overall, the temperature measurements were found to be in good agreement with the appropriate model predictions. The numerical models in conjunction with the experimental data, as well as previous studies, helped to define approximate (Re and Gr) parameter ranges over which the models are valid and can be used with some confidence. Two- and three-dimensional laminar as well as two-dimensional turbulent mathematical models have been developed to simulate both physical arrangements and predict the velocity and temperature fields inside the fluid driven by both shear and buoyancy forces. In addition, the two-dimensional laminar model has been coupled to a radiation enclosure model and a one-dimensional load model to investigate the interaction of radiation and mixed convection. The effects of different radiation and convection model parameters were investigated