Effect of surface radiation on natural convection in a square enclosure

Results of an experimental study of heat transfer by natural convection and surface radiation in an air-filled square enclosure using a differential i nterferometer are reported. The enclosure comprises two differentially heat ed vertical walls and two horizontal adiabatic walls. The suppression of na tural convection in the presence of surface radiation has been demonstrated experimentally. For the case of an enclosure with highly emissive walls, m ean Nusselt number correlations for convection and radiation, as well as co mbined convection and radiation, are also presented in terms of Grashof num ber in the laminar range.