Numerical simulation of natural convection in a partitioned enclosure using PDQ method

Purpose - This paper seeks to investigate the effect of a heat conducting vertical partition in an enclosure on natural convection heat transfer and fluid flow using the polynomial-based differential quadrature (PDQ) method. Design/methodology/approach - The PDQ method with the non-uniform Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto grid point distribution given below is used to transform the governing equations into a set of algebraic equations. After numerical discretization, the resulting algebraic equations are solved by the successive over-relaxation iteration method. Findings - It is found that the average Nusselt number decreases towards a constant value as the partition is distanced from the hot wall towards the middle of the enclosure. Furthermore, with decreasing thermal conductivity ratio, the average Nusselt number first increases and passes a peak point and then begins to decrease. The average heat transfer rate exhibits little dependence on the width of the partition in the range taken into consideration in this study for the thickness of the partition. Originality/value - This study offers more knowledge on natural convection in partitioned enclosures.