A design methodology for vertical channel flow and heat transfer

A design method based on a known inlet temperature and pressure drop across a system of finite-length vertical parallel-plate channels is presented. This method spans the entire spectrum of pure free convection through mixed convection up to forced convection and includes radiation heat transfer. The solution method is based on solving the full two-dimensional transient laminar Navier-Stokes and energy equations using a penalty finite-element method. Results for an asymmetrically heated channel provide a convenient parameter to determine when the flow is forced or free convection dominated and demonstrate the significant contribution of radiant energy transfer in air-cooled systems. The methodology is applicable to a wide range of design problems in cooling of electronic systems