Numerical analysis of natural convection and entropy generation in a 3D partitioned cavity

The effect of inclination angle on three dimensional (3D) natural convection in an inclined rectangular cavity similar to a solar collector equipped with partitions has been investigated numerically. Governing equations were established using the 3D velocity vector-vorticity formalism and discretized via the finite volume method (FVM). A parametric study has been performed for various inclination angles (from 0°to 90°), different partitions length (from 0.2 to 0.8), and a range of Rayleigh numbers varied from 103 to 105 while, Prandtl number was fixed at Pr = 0.71. Results are reported in terms of iso-surfaces of temperature, isotherms, particles trajectories, vector velocity projection, average Nusselt number and the entropies generation contours and graphs. Results showed the 3D character of the flow is more pronounced for higher Rayleigh numbers and lower partition lengths. For all inclinations and partition lengths, heat transfer and entropy generation are enhanced by increasing Rayleigh number.