Natural convection inside dome-shaped enclosure: Entropy generation for different inclination angles
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The present study investigates laminar flow and natural convection heat transfer inside a dome-shaped enclosure filled with air. The finite element method is used to examine the modeled physical domain for different Rayleigh numbers and inclination angles. The vertical walls were maintained with different thermal boundary conditions, and the remaining walls kept adiabatic. Three distinct Rayleigh numbers (Ra = 10 3 to 10 5 ) and dome heights ( b 1 , b 2 , b 3 ), and four distinct angles of inclination ( ϕ = 0 ∘ , 15 ∘ , 30 ∘ , 45 ∘ ), are taken into consideration to broaden the investigation. To assess the effectiveness of heat transport inside an enclosure, entropy generation is implemented for each dome shape using the second law of thermodynamics. The sensitivity of the output parameters is analyzed, and ECOP is performed. The results demonstrate that the dome-shaped wall enhances the fluid flow pattern in a smooth circulation, which accelerates more convective flows by employing the hot fluid to the cold wall area inside the enclosure. The investigation reveals that the mean Nusselt number decreases by 2%, 10%, and 19% when the inclination angle increases from 0 ∘ to 15 ∘ , 15 ∘ to 30 ∘ , and 30 ∘ to 45 ∘ , respectively. Meanwhile, it increases by 8% and 4% when we increase the dome height from b 1 to b 2 and b 2 to b 3 . As the Rayleigh number rises, entropy generation rises, but as the inclination angle rises, it falls. Finally, the dome height b 3 exhibits the highest heat transfer with the lowest entropy generation, demonstrating that the study is predominantly governed by heat transfer irreversibility. • Natural convection inside a dome-shaped enclosure is investigated. • Heat transfer rate is enhanced with a decrease in inclination angles. • Increase in dome height leads to enhanced heat transfer. • Entropy decreases with an increase in dome heights. • The highest dome height results in enhanced heat transfer at a lower inclination angle.
Source: Results in Engineering
Authors: V. Nithiya, V. Prabhakar
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,940
OpenAlex ID: W4414475996