This study describes a numerical procedure designed for large-scale simulation of 3D, time-dependent buoyant flows. The algorithm is based on a time-accurate, Finite Volume implementation of a 3nd order Projection scheme. Careful design of the data-structure has allowed the parallelization of the entire algorithm on a Cray T3D computer. Preliminary results are reported, namely the characteristic quantities, obtained for 3D natural convection in a cubic cavity, and the comparison between numerical results and experimental measurements for the mixed convection flow in a bottom-heated horizontal rectangular channel. It is concluded that the proposed algorithm is accurate and efficient, and it will give the opportunity to perform direct large-scale simulations of 3D, time-dependent and turbulent buoyancy-dominated flows.
