Heat Transfer Enhancement From a Vertical, Isothermal Channel Generated by the Chimney Effect

A numerical and experimental investigation of free convection from vertical, isothermal, parallel-walled channels has been undertaken to explore the heat transfer enhancement obtained by adding adiabatic extensions of various sizes and shapes. Investigations were carried out for air (Pr= 0.7) over a wide range of wall heating conditions. In all cases, the adiabatic extensions were able to increase heat transfer. The increase varied from 2.5 at low Ra* to 1.5 at high Ra*. The experimental and numerical results are in excellent agreement. A single correlation accounting for the channel aspect ratio L_h/b, expansion ratio, B/b, modified Rayleigh number, Ra* and heated length ratio, L_h/L is presented.