Abstract:
In this work, we present a numerical study of two-dimensional and steady flow of a fluid generated by a temperature gradient in a porous square cavity. The vertical walls of the enclosure are maintained isotherms, whose left wall at a warm temperature (Th) and the
right wall at a cold temperature (Tc), while the horizontal walls (upper and lower) are adiabatic. A Fortran code based on the finite volume method and the SIMPLER algorithm was used to solve the equations that govern physical phenomena. The results are validated with previous results found in the literature, and presented in graphical form. The effects of the Grashof Gr, Darcy Da and Prandlt Pr numbers, porosity e, size and position of the heat source are studied. The results show that increasing the dimensionless parameters (Gr,Da, Pr, e) improve the heat transfer rate, but increase the entropy generation in the cavity.
Also, the Nusselt number is higher for a length greater of the heater, contrary, the total entropy is low when the size of the heating element is small. Finally, the heat transfer rate in the cavity is much higher in the case where the position of the heat source is in the middle of
the wall, but the total entropy is small when the heat source is positioned in the section of the upper wall.
