Laminar Heat Transfer Downstream of a Sudden Enlargement of a Duct

Abstract

The effect of buoyancy force on laminar heat transfer rate downstream of a sudden enlargement of a two-dimensional duct is numerically discussed for a variety of velocity profiles at entrance to the enlarged part. It is clarified that variation of physical properties or of Grashof number with change of wall heat flux has a considerable influence on convective heat transfer as well as flow pattern, and that the Nusselt number in a separated region is closely connected with the velocity profiles at entrance to the enlarged part.