Mixed convection in a channel partially filled with metal foam blocks

The present work is a numerical simulation of the mixed convection of an incompressible fluid in a horizontal channel under sun radiation partially filled with metal foam blocks. The Darcy-Brinkman model is adopted. The control volume approach is used to solve the motion and energy equations governing mixed convection. The study focuses on the effect of certain control parameters such as the Rayleigh number (Ra), the thermal conductivity ratio and the porosity on the flow structure and heat transfer. Indeed, the results for flow structures and temperature distribution are presented in the form of velocity fields with streamtraces and isotherms, while the average Nusselt number (Nu) is used to quantify heat transfer.