Abstract
The double diffusive convection of cold water around its density maximum in a rectangular partitioned enclosure with isothermal side walls and insulated top and bottom is studied numerically. A thin partition is attached to the hot wall. The species diffusivity of the fluid is assumed to vary linearly with temperature. The two-dimensional flow equations expressed by stream function-vorticity formulation along with the energy and concentration equations are solved by finite difference scheme. The effects of position and height of the partition, and variable species diffusivity are analyzed for various Grashof numbers. The heat and mass transfer characteristics are analyzed using the streamlines, isotherms and isomasslines. It has been found that adding partition on the hot wall reduces the heat transfer. Also found that the density inversion of the water has a great influence on the natural convection. We concluded that placing partition at the middle of the hot wall has marked effect on flow pattern and heat transfer in the enclosure.