Numerical simulation of natural convection in a triangular enclosure with caterpillar (C)-curve shape hot wall

The present work enlightens the study of laminar natural convection in an isosceles right-angled triangular cavity filled with water. The bottom wall of the cavity contains a caterpillar (C)-curve shape wavy wall, having different width (w = 0.20b, 0.25b, 0.33b and 0.50b) and aspect ratio (δ) with 0 ⩽ δ ⩽ 0.15. Vertical and incline walls of the cavity are considered individually and together for cooling purpose. The physical model is solved to examine the effect of constrained parameters such as hot wall profiles, configurations of cold walls and Rayleigh number (105-107) on the fluid flow and heat transfer. The study is carried out numerically by commercially available software FLUENT 6.3. The deviation in the flow pattern and temperature profile is displayed by streamlines and isotherms contours whereas the variation in heat transfer rate is presented by local and average Nusselt number. It is found from the investigation that the heat transfer rate is enhanced significantly for caterpillar curved shape wavy wall than the flat hot wall. Moreover, the rate of heat transfer is varied profoundly with the location of cold walls.