Numerical study on performance enhancement of a square enclosure with multiple hot circular obstacles

Heat dissipation from thermal enclosures is critical for their endurance and efficiency. Through geometry optimization under natural convection, we can cost-effectively obtain maximum heat dissipation. Hence, the present study numerically investigates the flow and heat transfer characteristics of two hot circular bodies in a 2D simulation. By considering and reviewing several works of literature, a modification has been done, i.e., two cylinders are considered inside an enclosure with one of them at a fixed position and the other one at three different positions (considered as three different cases). So, the fluid (air) movement around the body has been increased and helps in appreciable heat transfer from the body. Our primary concern is as to how the utilization of this geometry will impact the heat transfer rate which we have quantified in terms of Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers. The most optimum configuration is when one of the obstacles is inclined at the top of the enclosure concerning the other which is vertically symmetric, and this orientation gives an increase of 28.09% in terms of the heat transfer, and when two obstacles are considered inline is when we can witness least favorable conditions. In this orientation, a decrease of 70.08% is observed when compared to the most optimum condition.