Numerical investigation of conjugate heat transfer in the presence of two fluid separated by a rigid wall

This study presents a series of numerical simulations of conjugate heat transfer within square cavity horizontally divided into two regions by a conductive wall. The two fluids are subjected to different boundary conditions. Cold fluid ( Pr 1 ) enters the upper part through an inlet ( h 1 ) and exits it via an outlet ( h 2 ), while the lower part has been heated from bellow and filled with another fluid ( Pr 2 = 7). The finite volume method has been used to predict thermal and hydrodynamic mechanisms in both fluid regions of cavity and at partition wall. Effect of inlet/outlet location has been considered according to two configurations. Influence of Reynolds number (50 ≤ Re ≤ 1000), Grashof number ( Gr = 10 4 and Gr = 5 × 10 5 ), fluid‐1 Prandtl number (Pr 1 ), and thermal conductivity ratio () has been investigated. Analysis of results was done based on isotherms, streamlines, local, and average Nusselt number. The results show that one of two configurations guarantee a higher Nusselt number. Higher heat transfer rate was obtained by increasing Reynolds and Grashof numbers. Also, it has been found that the effect of upper fluid flow regime on lower fluid flow is more pronounced with a very low thermal conductivity ratio.