Three-dimensional mixed convection heat transfer in a partially heated ventilated cavity

The 3-D mixed convective heat transfer inside a ventilated cavity partially heated is studied numerically by using control volume method. The heating square portion similar to the integrated electronic devices is placed on the left vertical wall of the enclosure. The right vertical wall is maintained at ambient temperature and all other walls are adiabatic. The results are presented in terms of flow structures, temperature distribution, and global average Nusselt number for various combinations of thermal controlling parameters, namely, the Richardson number (0 ≤ Ri ≤ 10), the Reynolds number (10 ≤ Ri ≤ 200), the heating section dimension (0. ≤ ε ≤ 0.7), and the relative height of the openings B = h/L = 1/8. It is found that for the low Reynolds number the heat transfer process is carried out only by conduction. On the other hand, the highest thermal performance is achieved by reducing the heating section dimension.