Developing flows in narrow channels, containing heated obstacles

The use of numerical techniques to augment experimentally collected temperature data of electrical components is illustrated. FIDAP, a finite element CFD code, is used to generate the numerical results. Comparisons of the numerical results with experimental data of HaCohen, experimentally derived correlations of Wirtz and Dykshoorn and numerical results of Heaton et al. are given. A discussion of modelling techniques, mesh refinement, numerical error and stability is presented with suggestions for improvement of flow models. The results generated by FIDAP, using 2D models, compare favourably (to within 10%) with the experimental data of HaCohen. The results indicate the possibility of augmenting experimental data collection with numerical results, at least in the regions of laminar and low turbulent flow.