Title: Entropy generation due to mixed convection between vertical parallel plates under isothermal boundary conditions

Authors: Esmail M.A. Mokheimer, Ali Hassan Al-Salim

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, P.O. Box 279, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Project Management Team (PMT), Saudi Aramco Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an investigation of the buoyancy effects on the entropy generation due to laminar mixed convection in vertical channels between parallel plates. The buoyancy effects, in terms of the buoyancy parameter (Gr/Re) as well as the effects of other operating parameters on the entropy generation are obtained and analysed. The analysis revealed the existence of optimum values of the buoyancy parameter Gr/Re at which the total entropy generation assumes its minimum values. These values are obtained analytically for isothermal boundary conditions of first kind at different values of the two plate|s temperature ratio, θ_T.

Keywords: entropy generation; minimisation; mixed convection; vertical channels; parallel plates; analytical solutions; isothermal boundary conditions; buoyancy effects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2009.027496

International Journal of Exergy, 2009 Vol.6 No.5, pp.671 - 697

Published online: 28 Jul 2009 *

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