Comparison of the results of modeling convective heat transfer in turbulent flows with experimental data

The results of simulation of natural turbulent convection in a square air cavity measuring 0.75 × 0.75 m and having isothermal vertical and highly heat-conducting horizontal walls are compared with the experimental data obtained for this cavity at a Rayleigh number equal to 1.58·10 9. In carrying out numerical investigations, a two-dimensional, low-turbulence, two-parameter k-ε model known as the low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence model was used. The results of investigations are presented for the distributions of the velocity and temperature components, as well as local and average values of the Nusselt number. The model was also used in calculating forced turbulent convection in a low-velocity channel with a backward facing step. The results of modeling are compared with experimental data on heat transfer in a turbulent separation flow downstream of the step. In both cases, a satisfactory agreement of the measured values with those predicted by the k-ε turbulence model is obtained. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.