Influence of baffle size and position on natural convective heat transport in a skewed cavity by finite element method

This paper explores natural convection heat removal performance in accordance with the variation of the baffle size and position in a skewed cavity. In this skewed cavity, the top and bottom walls are considered to be adiabatic. The inclined left wall is deliberated at a sinusoidal cool temperature, and the other wall is treated at a hot temperature. The baffle is connected to the hot temperature wall. The dimensionless governing equations will be solved by the Galerkin weighted residual (GWR) technique of the finite element method. The influence of Rayleigh number (10³≤Ra≤10⁶), baffle sizes (L=0.20, 0.35, and 0.50), and baffle positions (B=0.25, 0.50, and 0.75) in a fluid with Pr=1.41 were investigated in this research. The comparisons between the outcome of this work and previously published work in a literature review by Elatar et al.⁸ have been produced to examine the reliability and consistency of the data. The results of the simulation are represented by streamlines, isotherms, local and mean Nusselt numbers, mean fluid temperature, and baffle effectiveness. The results demonstrate that as the Rayleigh number grows, the heat removal performance rate continues to develop in this study. Also, the results revealed that the heat transport rate decreased when gradually raising the baffle length. Baffles can significantly improve the mixing of fluid inside the enclosure, which can mean reductions in reaction times and operating costs, along with increases in heat exchange and efficiency.