Numerical investigation of heat transfer with laminar natural convection in different roof types

In this study, heat transfer and fluid flow is investigated numerically for different rooftypes (gable, gambrel, shed, salt box roof). Main purpose of the thesis is to determine the mostsuitable roof types in terms of heat transfer for Elazig and similar climate regions. Roof isconsidered as an enclosure and steady-state heat transfer with laminar natural convection isinvestigated. Equations of continuity, momentum and energy are solved by using Boussinesqapproximation and vorticity-stream function formulation. Finite difference method is used fortwo-dimensional numerical solution. The differential equations are solved by computer programwritten in Fortran programming language. Optimum grid numbers are determined for each rooftypes. Variation of Nusselt number is obtained by using flow and temperature fields fordifferent Rayleigh numbers in summer and winter periods.It is determined that, flow and temperature fields are more influenced by Rayleighnumbers for all types of roof in winter comparing to summer periods. It is seen that gambrelroof and salt box roof have the most heat transfer rate in summer and winter periods,respectively. For Elazig and similar climate regions, it is illustrated by figures that "GambrelRoof? is suitable for well-insulated buildings and ?Shed Roof? is suitable for not-well-insulatedbuildings as far as the heat transfer is concerned.Key Words: Heat Transfer, Natural Convection, Roof