MIXED CONVECTION IN AN INCLINED CHANNEL WITH LOCALIZED HEAT-SOURCES

Fully developed opposing mixed convection is numerically studied in an inclined channel that has discrete heating on the bottom and is insul ated on the top. The numerical approach is based on the hypothesis tha t the solution is periodic according to the imposed wavelength of the heating elements. Considering that the heat produced by the heating el ements is totally carried downstream, the temperature increment from o ne heating element to the other is defined on the basis of an energy b alance. To verify the accuracy of the computational code, an analytica l study of the extreme case with an entirely heated wall is investigat ed. Also, to validate that the solution of the problem is periodic wit h a wavelength corresponding to the imposed perturbation, a channel wi th entrance and exit sections containing four to six heating elements is simulated numerically. In the present study, the relative strength of the forced flow and buoyancy effects is examined for a broad range of Rayleigh numbers, Reynolds numbers, and inclination angles. Both ov erall and local recirculating flows are observed that are caused by bu oyancy effects on the forced flow.