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Experimental Study of Heat Transfer in an Insulated Local Heated from Below and Comparison with Simulation by Lattice Boltzmann Method
1 LABSIPE, National School of Applied Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, 24000, Morocco
2 LPMAT, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca, 20100, Morocco
* Corresponding Author: Noureddine Abouricha. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Computational and Numerical Advances in Heat Transfer: Models and Methods I)
Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer 2024, 22(1), 359-375. https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2024.047632
Received 12 November 2023; Accepted 25 December 2023; Issue published 21 March 2024
Abstract
In this paper, experimental and numerical studies of heat transfer in a test local of side heated from below are presented and compared. All the walls, the rest of the floor and the ceiling are made from plywood and polystyrene in sandwich form ( plywood- polystyrene- plywood) just on one of the vertical walls contained a glazed door (). This local is heated during two heating cycles by a square plate of iron the width , which represents the heat source, its temperature is controlled. The plate is heated for two cycles by an adjustable set-point heat source placed just down the center of it. For each cycle, the heat source is switched “on” for 6 h and switched “off” for 6 h. The outdoor air temperature is kept constant at a low temperature . All measurements are carried out with k-type thermocouples and with flux meters. Results will be qualitatively presented for two cycles of heating in terms of temperatures and heat flux densities for various positions of the test local. The temperature evolution of the center and the profile of the temperature along the vertical centerline are compared by two dimensions simulation using the lattice Boltzmann method. The comparison shows a good agreement with a difference that does not exceed °C.Keywords
Nomenclature
Discrete velocity vector (lattice unit) | |
The x, y axis projection of velocity vector, respectively (lattice unit) | |
Dimension of space | |
External buoyancy force (lattice unit) | |
Distribution functions for the flow and temperature, respectively (lattice unit) | |
Vector of gravity ( | |
Height of the cavity ( | |
Indices aligned with the x and y directions, respectively | |
Width of the plate ( | |
Count of nodes in the x and y directions, respectively | |
Prandtl number (-) | |
Rayleigh number (-) | |
Thermal resistance ( | |
Temperature ( | |
Time ( | |
Macroscopic velocity coordinates (lattice unit) | |
Cartesian coordinates (lattice unit) | |
Greek Symbols | |
Thermal diffusivity ( | |
Thermal conductivity ( | |
Coefficient of thermal expansion ( | |
Difference of temperature ( | |
Lattice time step (lattice unit) | |
Lattice space step (lattice unit) | |
Dimensionless form of the temperature (-) | |
Kinematic viscosity ( | |
Density of flow | |
Relaxation time corresponding to the fluid flow and temperature, respectively (lattice unit) | |
Weights factor (lattice unit) | |
Heat flux density ( | |
Heat flux ( | |
Subscripts and Superscript | |
Cold | |
Equilibrium | |
Hot | |
Lattice link number | |
Momentum | |
Maximum | |
Opposite | |
Scalar |
Over the last two decades, the thermal comfort of buildings has become the most important, especially in terms of energy consumption in buildings [1]. Most researchers are looking for ways to improve the thermal performance of buildings to reduce the rate of energy consumption with some respect for environmental tools. Among the proposed solutions is the increase in thermal inertia, insulation of walls and use of phase change materials (PCM) to store and recover thermal energy [2–5]. Shaikh et al. [6] appreciated an analysis of the utilization of the PCM in cooling systems. In the study by Sonnick et al. [7], an experimental investigation was conducted on the implementation of a salt hydrate storage system to attain temperature stabilization for enhancing thermal comfort in prefabricated wooden residences. The findings demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of salt hydrates and their notable positive impact on the thermal performance of prefabricated wooden houses. Wang et al. [8] presented a review of the application, performance and the characteristic of the PCM.
Most scientific researchers are moving towards digital modeling because of the lack of means and instruments necessary to carry out an experiment. These researchers employed numerical methodologies, encompassing the Finite Difference Method (FDM), Finite Volume Method (FVM), and, more recently, the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), among other techniques. Østergaard et al. [9] presented an examination of techniques for the simulation of a heating system, an example of small-temperature heating in a standing single-family company. Khoukhi [10] elucidated the combined influence of temperature and humidity on the thermal conductivity of polystyrene (EPS) material installed in building envelopes for insulation. The findings indicated a notable impact of varying moisture content on the thermal conductivity of polystyrene insulation across different operational temperatures. In a study conducted by Kürekci et al. [11], an assessment was carried out involving experimental and numerical investigations of laminar natural convection within a differentially heated cubical enclosure. The outcomes of these analyses were juxtaposed, revealing a substantial level of congruence between the experimental and numerical findings. The same configuration with an internal heat source was used to study the turbulent mixed convection experimentally and numerically. The renormalized k–ε turbulence model yielded a minimum average percentage difference of 12.9% of the calculated average Nusselt numbers on the heated wall and 4.1% of the heat source when compared to experimental values [12]. An experimental study and numerical simulation in
Recently, the LBM has been used by several authors for solving complex thermal problems. This method proved the ability to classify between the numerical methods [15–19]. The phenomenon is under observation, and a notable concurrence is evident between the outcomes derived from the LBM approach and the LES technique, all while achieving considerably expedited computational durations. In this particular context, Hu et al. [20] have introduced a framework that integrates the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), large eddy simulation (LES), and a Markov chain model to simulate transient particle transport indoors. The comparison between the proposed framework and the other models gives a deviation of around
2 Studied Configuration and Methodology
2.1.1 Description of the Studied Configuration
The test local is built in a cubical form of side
2.1.2 Heating and Cooling Cycles
Just a part of under floor is heated by using a square plate of iron of width
2.1.3 Instrumentation and Measurements
Experimental measurements are performed on the inside and outside faces, in the center and along the vertical centerline of the test cavity. Moreover, we measured the temperature and the heat flux densities at different positions/faces of the test local (walls, door, ceiling, rest of the floor and hot plate), Employing k-type thermocouples (0.2 mm) exhibiting a maximum deviation of 0.2°C, alongside flux-meters having a diameter of 2.54 cm, characterized by a precision of 3% and a response time of 0.3 s. The heat flux sensors yield either a positive or negative voltage, contingent upon the direction of the heat flux densities. These measurements are taken at one-minute intervals. The details of the experimental operation and the studied configuration are shown schematically in Fig. 2, with the setting of the thermocouples and the flux-meters already connected to the data acquisition system that is stored in a computer.
The last configuration is projected on the vertical medium contained the glazed door (Fig. 3).
This is later simulated in two dimensions (
2.2.2 Lattice Boltzmann Method Formulation
The Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is a numerical method utilizes two single particle distribution functions,
The Lattice Boltzmann Equation (LBE) without external forces associated to the BGK (Bhatangar-Gross-Krook) approximation as for single particle and single time relaxation can be written [32,35,36]:
The equilibrium distribution function can be expressed as in [37]:
The weights factors
Notice that,
For dynamic field the LBE-BGK with external buoyancy forces can be written as:
For thermal field the LBE-BGK can be written as:
The equilibrium distribution function for thermal field can be developed at first-order [38,39].
Finally, the basic quantities, such as density
The boundary conditions relevant to the problem within a two-dimensional (2D) framework.
• Dynamic boundary conditions:
✓ On the walls all velocities are zero:
✓ « bounce-back »
• Thermal boundary conditions:
The equation provided was utilized to determine the prescribed temperature applied to both the hot and cold walls.
✓ On the square plate
✓ On the door
✓ On the adiabatic walls ceiling and the rest of the floor (without the iron plate) and all the vertical walls (without the door):
For example, at the ceiling (top wall (
Here, “i” corresponds to the iteration index along the x-direction, and “M” signifies the count of lattice points located at the upper wall, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
The results will be qualitatively presented in terms of the temperature profiles
The objective here is to link between the experimental model and the numerical model, and transform lattice units into physical units just to compare the results. For the first time, we calculate Rayleigh number
The numerical code (LBM–FORTAN) is used in two dimension (2D) by considering the projection of the experimental configuration on the vertical medium contained the glazed door (Fig. 3). The lattice dimensions are set as N = 800 for the x direction and M = 800 for the y direction. The lattice spacing intervals, Δx and Δy, as well as the lattice time step, Δt, are all assigned a value equal to unity.
Utilizing the principle of similarity and dimensionless parameters like the Rayleigh number (Ra) and Prandtl number (Pr) for the air-filled cavity, we are able to compute the value of gβ as depicted in Eq. (3)
The results obtained from the lattice Boltzmann method are expressed in lattice units. For the temperature, we used
3.1 Calibration and Tests of the Experimental Model
Before starting our monitoring, it is recommended that the validity of the measurements be guaranteed. For that, we realized two tests: the first one is made without a heat source. We ensured that all the thermocouples and the flux-meters indicate the same values. The second test is realized with the presence of the heat source. The iron plate is heated for
Fig. 5 shows the variation of imposed temperature of the plate in which the set point temperature is kept constant at
The time evolution of the measured temperature of the plate, door, ceiling, center and wall are shown in Fig. 6 for two heating cycles. These curves show that during the heating period, the temperature curves behave in the same way. These increase to a maximum when the heat source is switched on and then decrease to a minimum when the heat source is turned off. We also find that the coldest wall is at the glass door. Its maximum temperature remains not higher than
We specify here that at the level of the floor, there is an iron plate placed in the center of the floor (Fig. 1). For these, we have access to two densities of flow: the first through the wooden part and the other through the hot metal plate. This last flux density will not be studied in time because its average value is negligible. However, the heat flux density at the center of the plate will be considered.
The heat flux densities measured in the center of the surface of the plate, the floor, the wall and the ceiling are shown in Fig. 7. Firstly, there is no recorded delay between the curves of flux, which explains the low thermal inertia of the walls. Note also that the heat flux density through the ceiling and the walls is very low compared to the plate. Negative values of this flux density that appear during the stopping phase of heating show that there is a slight return of heat stored in the ceiling towards the cavity. When the heat source is switched on, the curves of these heat flux densities increase from an initial value of almost zero to a maximum
3.4 Analysis of the Temperature and Heat Flux
According to the analysis of the temperature and flux density measurements, we arrive at several verifications. The numerical study in the part below is based on these checks, especially in the permanent regime. One of the remarks that must be emphasized is that from one cycle to another. For each position, the temperature and the heat flux density return to their initial value (that of the start for the first time). This means that the cavity, including its envelope, is completely discharged and there is almost no heat storage effect going from one cycle to another. These are the problems related to the low thermal inertia of the envelope. At the permanent regime,
The temperature of the interior and exterior faces was measured to calculate the heat flux. This latter is measured directly considering the heat flux densities measured in some faces. But in certain faces, it is calculated by the following expression
3.5 Comparison between Experimental and Numerical Results
The comparison between the experimental and numerical results is presented in terms of temporal variation of the temperatures at the center of the cavity and along the vertical median axis for
In the present paper, we executed both an experimental and numerical analysis of convective heat transfer within a cubic test model. The description of the studied cavity, as well as the construction materials and measuring equipment, was detailed at the beginning of the paper. We also tested the validity of temperature and heat flux measurements by performing tests to calibrate thermocouples and flux meters. In the second step, we conducted a numerical study in two dimensions (
-In heating cycles, temperature and heat flux densities on different positions/faces increase with time, but in cooling cycles, temperature and heat flux densities are decreased.
-In the test local, the cold part is the door, and the hot part is at the plate.
-The heat flux measured
-A large part of the flow entered from the plate is lost through the door.
-In the upper half of the test local, the temperature values are almost identical. The temperature curves in the center and in the inner face of the ceiling are practically confused. This coincidence is also justified by the temperature field presented by the lines isotherms.
-The evolution of the temperature at the center and the temperature profile along the vertical axis passing through the center found by the numerical study and the experimental study were compared and interpreted during one heating cycle. The results obtained show good agreement with a difference that does not exceed
Finally, this computational investigation was undertaken with the aim of creating and confirming a proprietary code utilizing the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). This code facilitates the treatment of heat transfer within building simulations, as well as the analysis of natural or mixed convection flows within intricate geometries. It caters to both laminar and turbulent regimes and accommodates both 2D and 3D configurations.
Acknowledgement: The authors would like to thank the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) for access to computing machines.
Funding Statement: The authors received no specific funding for this study.
Author Contributions: All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Noureddine Abouricha, Ayoub Gounni and Mustapha El Alami. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Noureddine ABOURICHA and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Availability of Data and Materials: There is no unavailable data in this study.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.
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