Entropy generation in turbulent natural convection due to internal heat generation

In this study numerical predictions of entropy generation in turbulent natural convection due to internal heat generation in a square cavity are reported for the first time. Results of entropy generation analysis are obtained by solving the entropy generation equation. The values of velocity and temperature, which are the inputs of the entropy generation equation, are obtained by an improved thermal lattice-BGK model proposed in this paper. The analyzed range is wide, varying from the steady laminar symmetric state to the fully turbulent state. Distributions of entropy generation numbers, for various Rayleigh numbers, Prandtl numbers, and Eckert numbers, are given. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.