A NUMERICAL MODEL FOR THE SIMULATION OF DOUBLE-DIFFUSIVE NATURAL CONVECTION IN A RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGULAR SOLAR COLLECTOR

Abstract

A numerical model is presented for the simulation of
double-diffusive natural convection in a triangular solar
collector. This design is encountered in greenhouse solar
stills where vertical temperature and concentration
gradients between the saline water and transparent cover
induce flows in a confined space. This phenomenon
plays an important function in the water distillation
process and in the biological comfort. In this doublediffusion problem, the ratioBr of the relative magnitude
thermal and compositional buoyancy and Rayleigh
numbers are key parameters. Finite element technique is
used to solve the governing equations. Numerical results
are presented for the effect of the abovementioned
parameters on local heat and mass transfer rate. In
addition, results for the average heat and mass transfer
rate are offered and discussed for the mentioned
parametric conditions. Some interesting results are found
in this investigation.