Fully resolved simulation of particle deposition and heat transfer in a differentially heated cavity

In this paper a fictitious domain method is used to study the motion of particles in a differentially heated cavity. A collision strategy is implemented which is validated using the problem of two freely falling particles with natural convection taking place from the leading hot particle. The motion of the particles in a differentially heated cavity is considered where the vertical walls are subject to a temperature difference Delta T whereas horizontal walls are assumed to be adiabatic. Depending on the fluid Grashof number different flow regimes and two critical Grashof numbers are identified. Sustained motion of the suspended particles is also studied and different behaviour is observed compared to the limiting case of tracer particles where simulations are usually performed using one-way coupled point-particle assumptions. Finally the effects of the particles on the heat transfer from the hot wall are studied and it is found that addition of large particles can adversely influence the heat transfer rate. However, if hot particles are effectively removed from the wall, e.g. by increasing the Grashof number, wall heat transfer properties can still be enhanced. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.