Convection generated by a small heat source in a box with a cooled upper contour at constant temperature

The flow generated by a linear heat source inside a thermally insulated box with the upper boundary maintained at constant temperature is analyzed by means of a series of experiments. The attention is focused on the steady state during which the heat provided by the source is absorbed by the upper boundary giving place to a particular convective process in two well defined zones. One of them occupies most part of the box from the lower boundary and is characterized by a turbulent convective flow; the other is the thermal boundary layer developed below the cooled top contour where strong fluctuations are detected. Special interest is found in the analogies with the results obtained employing a configuration similar to that used to research the Rayleigh-Benard convection with lower and upper boundaries at constant temperatures but without internal sources. This study has particular relevance to understanding and predicting the use of the cooled-ceiling systems in buildings as a passive solution to enhance the comfort of its inhabitants during hot days with the consequential energy savings.