LAUSR

Abstract In this paper, an improved lattice Boltzmann model that incorporates the effect of heat capacity is adopted to simulate the conjugate natural convection in a square enclosure with a circular cylinder, and the square cavity considered is bounded by four finite thickness and conductive walls. Influences of Rayleigh number, wall thermophysical properties, and wall thickness on streamlines, isotherms and Nusselt number are analyzed. It is found that the heat transfer rate obtained for different wall thicknesses is usually smaller than that for the zero wall thickness, while this difference is not apparent for a larger thermal conductivity ration. Additionally, the study also shown that the increase of the outer wall thickness tends to decrease the heat transfer rate. The effects of the geometric parameter, including aspect ratio and vertical cylinder location, on heat transfer are also studied.