Large eddy simulation of turbulent natural convection between symmetrically heated vertical parallel plates for water

The boundary layer interaction effect of the turbulent natural convection in the gap between symmetrically heated vertical parallel plates was evaluated using a numerical simulation in the present study. A large eddy simulation was conducted, and a Vreman model was used as a dynamic subgrid-scale model. The numerical simulation was validated thorough a comparison with the experimental result for the turbulent natural convection adjacent to a single vertical heated plate. The boundary interaction effect was investigated by varying the gap between the parallel plates. The results showed that the flow for vertical parallel plates had a lower heat transfer rate than a vertical plate flow. The boundary layers and vortex structure were evaluated. The heat transfer was reduced as a result of a reduced velocity gradient in the outer region of the velocity boundary layer. The averaged heat transfer was similar to that of the laminar flow.