Numerical analysis of natural convection heat transfer between hot bottom and a horizontal top plate

In this study, a system of a two finite sized horizontally parallel platewas examined to see the change on natural convection by distancebetween the parallel plates, the temperature difference and the platedimensions. To see the effect of distance between plates anexperimental study in the literature was examined. Experimental resultsin literature were re-analyzed numerically in 3D by this study and acomparison between results was done. By this study, also, thetemperature difference values between bottom plate and surroundingwere changed and the effect of this parameter was investigatednumerically. In addition, change on natural convection from bottomplate?s center to the sides was examined by this study. Later on,experimental system?s plate dimensions were changed and effect ofplate dimension on natural convection was analyzed numerically. Toanalyze the study numerically, a CFD program that can solve energy,momentum and continuity equations called FLUENT, using finitevolume method was used. The CAD model of the experimentalapparatus were constructed by another program, called GAMBIT. In thewhole study, both the hotter bottom plate and the top plate were keptunder constant temperatures and the distance between the plates wasvaried between 10mm to 45mm. By the numerical analysis,vicorresponding to these distances, Nusselt numbers for the hotterbottom plate were calculated and results were plotted by graphs,velocity vectors and temperature profiles.From the results, it can be seen that an increase in plate separation, anincrease in temperature difference and a decrease in plate dimensionsresults with an increase in natural convection heat transfer.Science code : 914.1.065Key words : Horizontal parallel plate, natural convection,constant wall temperature, Fluent, numericalanalysisPage numbers : 80Adviser : Prof.Dr.Nevzat ONUR