A Finite Element Analysis of Conjugate Heat Transfer inside a Cavity with a Heat Generating Conducting Body

In the present study, a finite element analysis of conjugate heat transfer problem inside a cavity with a heat-generating conducting body, where constant heat flux is generated, is conducted. A conduction heat transfer problem inside the solid body is automatically coupled with natural convection inside the cavity by using a finite element formulation. A finite element formulation based on SIMPLE type algorithm is adopted for the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations coupled with energy equation. The proposed algorithm is verified by solving the benchmark problem of conjugate heat transfer inside a cavity having a centered body. Then a conjugate natural heat transfer inside a cavity having a heat-generating conducting body with constant heat source is studied and the effect of the Rayleigh number on the heat transfer characteristics inside a cavity is investigated.