Contribution to the Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Natural Convection in Rectangular Enclosures

Turbulence in high Rayleigh number two dimensional confined free convection is modeled by two k-e formulations. Results are presented for a square cavity with Prandtl number of 0.71 and Rayleigh number ranging from 10 E10 to 10 E12. Also, numerical results and experimental measurements are compared for a 10:1 height-to-width aspect ratio cavity filled with water, and Rayleigh number of 8x10 E10. From the comparisons performed it is apparent that k-e modeling in free convection, although yelding acceptable predictions for several qualtities, tends to overestimate the heat-transfer rate