Numerical simulation of turbulent natural convection in vertical channel asymmetrically heat with constant heat flux

The natural convection flow in an asymmetrically heated vertical channel of finite length was simulated using Low Reynolds number k-epsilon model. The problem has many applications in industry and in civil engineering cooling systems. Two-dimensional averaged momentum and energy equations are solved numerically. The effect of radiation on the rate of heat transfer is neglected. The problem is challenging, where inlet and outlet condition is not known prior to solution. In order to trigger transition, turbulence is introduced at the entrance to the channel, and its influence on the flow and on the transition to turbulent flow is addressed. Also, the rate of heat transfer from the heated wall is analyzed. The results were compared with experimental data and overall agreement was good.