Experimental and numerical studies on heat transfer and ventilation characteristics in a factory with high heat-generating machinery

This study conducts experimental and numerical studies on natural convection and ventilation characteristics in a factory with high heat-generating machinery. It also selects a turbulence flow model suitable for the factory. Finally, the effects of the partition configuration on the ventilation characteristics, temperature field, velocity field, and natural convection heat transfer coefficient in the factory are discussed. ANSYS Fluent 18 was used in this study. The results show that among all the turbulence flow models used in this study, the convection heat transfer coefficient predicted by the zero-equation model is closest to the result obtained by the existing empirical formula, and the root mean square error of the temperature is also small enough. Therefore, the zero-equation turbulence model is the most suitable model for this study. In addition, when the height of the partition increases, it will affect the surface temperature of the partition and increase the heat transfer coefficient on the heating block, with a maximum increase of 40%. However, the increase in the height of the partition will cause a recirculation area and hot air accumulation under the partition. The increase in the partition spacing will reduce the partition and air temperatures, with the maximum temperature reduction of 15 K and 3 K, respectively. At the same time, it will increase the heat transfer coefficient on the heating block, with the maximum increase of 45%, and help avoid the formation of recirculation areas and hot air accumulation under the partition. Therefore, this study recommends that the partitions of the factory should be set with a low height and a large spacing to achieve a better ventilation effect and improve the comfort of the working area under the partition.