Coupled heat transfers in a three cavity hollow block subjected to an incident solar flux: Effect of heat conductivity

Abstract

Hollow blocks or bricks are widely used due to the good thermal insulation, lightweight, and acoustic insulation etc. In this paper, we present a numerical study of heat transfers coupled by natural convection and radiation conduction through a hollow block with three cavities used for the construction of ceilings of buildings. This hollow block is subjected to an incident solar flux and exchanging heat with the air ambient. The governing equations of the mathematical model used for the simulation are discretized by the finite volume method and solved by the SIMPLE algorithm. The main objective of this simulation is to study, in steady state, the effect of the thermal conductivity of the solid partitions on heat flux through this hollow block. The results are presented in terms of streamlines, the isotherms, temperature profiles on the actives surfaces and the obtained global heat flux.