Modelling of natural convection in a two-dimensional U-shaped channel with vertical temperature gradient

The work examines the solution of the problem of calculating the temperature and velocity field of water in a two-dimensional curved U-shaped channel heated from below, modelling a U-shaped tube. The calculation is based on the solution of the system of Navier-Stokes, heat conduction and continuity equations in the Boussinesq approximation by the finite element method. The influence of heating parameters and geometrical characteristics of the studied area on the formed temperature and velocity distributions of free convective fluid flow is researched. It is shown that the greatest influence on the process of natural convection in the considered conditions is exerted by the tube diameter. The obtained results can be used when considering liquid flows accompanied by free convection in installations with U-shaped tubes, such as in the thermoelectrokinetic effect.