Numerical simulation of time-dependent buoyant flows in an enclosed vertical channel

A time-accurate Finite Volume method is used to investigate the two-dimensi onal buoyant flow in a closed cabinet containing two vertical heating plate s. These are parallel, and form a channel at the centre of the cabinet encl osure. The cases of isothermal plates, and of uniform heat generation withi n them, are both considered for two values, 1 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(7), of the leading non-dimensional parameter, the Grashof number. Air (Pr = 0.71) is considered as the working fluid. Transient and long term thermal and flow b ehaviours are investigated. Steady-state solutions are asymptotically found at the lower Gr-value. However, time-dependent long-term solutions are pre dicted at Gr = 1 x 10(7) .