Modeling of the thermal performance of air-filled partitioned enclosures: Effects of the geometry and thermal properties.

Enclosures divided by multiple vertical diffusive partitions have a high insulating quality and may provide tangible benefits as a construction material. The enclosure under investigation is differentially heated, with adiabatic bottom and top sides. The three coupled modes of heat transfer are investigated numerically. An analysis of the interaction of natural convection and surface radiation has been conducted by studying the influence of the partitions and walls surface emissivity. A parametric study is conducted to point out the influence on global heat transfer of some parameters such as partitions number, enclosure void fraction, and thermal conductivity ratio of partitions and side walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]