Multicellular natural convection in a high aspect ratio cavity: experimental and numerical results

This work is a contribution to the highlighting of the secondary flows in v ertical cavities with high aspect ratio, in laminar regime. Multicellular f lows in high aspect ratio two-dimensional cavities, such as those encounter ed in insulated glazing units, are the main focus of this investigation. Nu merical and experimental results are presented. Authors investigate a numer ical study on the temperature field and the associated Nusselt number, and on the velocity field. In the experiments, Particle Image Velocimetry is us ed to obtain the velocity field. The numerical and experimental results sho w the presence of secondary cells. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.