Experimental analysis of natural convection in square cavities heated from below with 2D-PIV and holographic interferometry techniques

A numerical and experimental analysis was performed to study the natural convection heat transfer in a square cavity heated from below and cooled by the sidewalls. The enclosure was filled with air (Pr = 0.71) and a discrete heater was mounted on its lower surface; the effect of three different positions was evaluated. The air temperature distribution and the Nusselt numbers at different Rayleigh numbers on the heated strip were measured by an holographic interferometry thanks to the real-time and the double-exposure technique. The double-exposure technique was performed at steady-state and it was used to obtain the isothermal lines in the cavity at different Rayleigh numbers; while the real-time technique was used to control the presence of the plume oscillations and to determinate the achievement of the steady-state. A 2D particle image velocimetry (PIV) was utilized to measure the velocity fields at the same Rayleigh numbers. In particular we analysed the distribution of the velocity vectors and their modulus inside the cavity. The convective phenomenon was studied and the Nusselt numbers were presented as well as the Rayleigh numbers analysed. Moreover experimental and numerical correlations were determined for each position analysed to connect the Rayleigh numbers with the Nusselt numbers. Measured quantities were compared with the numerical results which were obtained with the finite volume code Fluent 6.2.16.