Onset and Development of Natural Convection Above a Suddenly Heated Horizontal Surface

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 808-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Goldstein ◽  
R. J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Heated Surface ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Fluid Motion ◽  
Horizontal Layer ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Surface Convection ◽  
Heating From Below ◽  
Conduction Layer ◽  
Moving Pattern

The onset and development of flow in a thick horizontal layer subject to a near-constant flux heating from below has been studied experimentally. The overall heat-flux-based Rayleigh number, Ra*, ranges from 2 × 108 to 7 × 1010. Flow visualization shows the growth and breakdown of a conduction layer adjacent to the heated surface. Convection is characterized by the release of warm meandering plumes and thermals from a boundary layer. The planform of convection at the heated surface begins with a pattern of small spots suggestive of Be´nard cells. Some of these cells expand, forming a larger cell pattern. This continues until a quasi-steady state is reached in which the former cell boundaries form a slowly moving pattern of warm lines on the heated surface. The lines are believed to be the source of the plumes and thermals. Quantitatively, the onset of convection occurs at a constant (critical) Rayleigh number based on the conduction layer thickness, Raδ. Based on the first observation of fluid motion, this critical Rayleigh number is approximately 1300. Based on the heated surface temperature the critical Rayleigh number is 2700. The nondimensional wavenumber associated with the observed instabilities at the onset of convection is about 2.2.

Stability and Convection in Impulsively Heated Porous Layers

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Kohl ◽  
M. Kristoffersen ◽  
F. A. Kulacki
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Heated Surface ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Axisymmetric Flow ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Upward Moving ◽  
The Stability

Experiments are reported on initial instability, turbulence, and overall heat transfer in a porous medium heated from below. The porous medium comprises either water or a water-glycerin solution and randomly stacked glass spheres in an insulated cylinder of height:diameter ratio of 1.9. Heating is with a constant flux lower surface and a constant temperature upper surface, and the stability criterion is determined for a step heat input. The critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection is obtained in terms of a length scale normalized to the thermal penetration depth as Rac=83/(1.08η−0.08η2) for 0.02<η<0.18. Steady convection in terms of the Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers is Nu=0.047Ra0.91Pr0.11(μ/μ0)0.72 for 100<Ra<5000. Time-averaged temperatures suggest the existence of a unicellular axisymmetric flow dominated by upflow over the central region of the heated surface. When turbulence is present, the magnitude and frequency of temperature fluctuations increase weakly with increasing Rayleigh number. Analysis of temperature fluctuations in the fluid provides an estimate of the speed of the upward moving thermals, which decreases with distance from the heated surface.

The Onset of Convection in a Layer of Cellular Porous Material: Effect of Temperature-Dependent Conductivity Arising From Radiative Transfer

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Nield ◽  
A. V. Kuznetsov
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Porous Material ◽  
Effective Conductivity ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Horizontal Layer ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Cellular Foams ◽  
Variation Parameter

The onset of convection in a horizontal layer of a cellular porous material heated from below is investigated. The problem is formulated as a combined conductive-convective-radiative problem in which radiative heat transfer is treated as a diffusion process. The problem is relevant to cellular foams formed from plastics, ceramics, and metals. It is shown that the variation of conductivity with temperature above that of the cold boundary leads to an increase in the critical Rayleigh number (based on the conductivity of the fluid at that boundary temperature) and an increase in the critical wave number. On the other hand, the critical Rayleigh number based on the conductivity at the mean temperature decreases with increase in the thermal variation parameter if the radiative contribution to the effective conductivity is sufficiently large compared with the nonradiative component.

The smooth transition to a convective régime in a two-dimensional box

1978 ◽  
Vol 358 (1693) ◽  
pp. 199-221 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Fluid Motion ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Linear Stability Theory ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Free Mode ◽  
Limiting Case

The fluid motion in a two-dimensional box heated from below is considered. The horizontal surfaces are taken to be free and isothermal while the sidewalls are first taken to be rigid and perfect insulators. Linear stability theory shows that the critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection is higher than that when no side walls are present and the eigenvalue spectrum is discrete. Finite amplitude theory shows that the onset of convection is sudden, that is, bifurcation occurs. The effect of allowing the sidewalls to be slightly imperfect insulators is also investigated. It is found that if the boundary conditions of the sidewalls depart only slightly from those given above, there is a significant change in the response of the fluid. In the most general circumstances a resonance of the free mode is excited as the Rayleigh number approaches its critical value and finite amplitude effects become important. Then it is shown that the onset of convection is quite smooth and the concept of a sharp bifurcation at a critical Rayleigh number is no longer tenable. For a particular class of imperfections it is shown that a ‘transcritical’ bifurcation as described by Benjamin (1976) is possible. The limiting case of a very long box is given special consideration.

Finite Amplitude Convection in a Rotating Porous Medium

1987 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20
Author(s):  
B. S. Dandapat
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Interstitial Fluid ◽  
Saturated Porous Medium ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Horizontal Layer ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Linear Stability Theory ◽  
Onset Of Convection

The onset of convection in a horizontal layer of a saturated porous medium heated from below and rotating about a vertical axis with uniform angular velocity is investigated. It is shown that when S ∈ σ >1, overstability cannot occur, where ε is the porosity, σ the Prandtl number and S is related to the heat capacities of the solid and the interstitial fluid. It is also shown that for small values of the rotation parameter T1, finite amplitude motion with subcritical values of Rayleigh number R (i.e. R < Re, where Re is the critical Rayleigh number according to linear stability theory) is possible. For large values of T1, overstability is the preferred mode.

Onset of convection in a variable-viscosity fluid

1982 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 411-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl C. Stengel ◽  
Dean S. Oliver ◽  
John R. Booker
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Viscosity Ratio ◽  
Variable Viscosity ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Horizontal Layer ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Temperature Dependent Viscosity ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Dependent Viscosity

The Rayleigh number R, in a horizontal layer with temperature-dependent viscosity can be based on the viscosity at T0, the mean of the boundary temperatures. The critical Rayleigh number Roc for fluids with exponential and super-exponential viscosity variation is nearly constant at low values of the ratio of the viscosities at the top and bottom boundaries; increases at moderate values of the viscosity ratio, reaching a maximum at a ratio of about 3000, and then decreases. This behaviour is explained by a simple physical argument based on the idea that convection begins first in the sublayer with maximum Rayleigh number. The prediction of Palm (1960) that certain types of temperature-dependent viscosity always decrease Roc is confirmed by numerical results but is not relevant to the viscosity variations typical of real liquids. The infinitesimal-amplitude state assumed by linear theory in calculating Roc does not exist because the convection jumps immediately to a finite amplitude at R0c. We observe a heat-flux jump at R0c exceeding 10% when the viscosity ratio exceeds 150. However, experimental measurements of R0c for glycerol up to a viscosity ratio of 3400 are in good agreement with the numerical predictions when the effects of a temperature-dependent expansion coefficient and thermal diffusivity are included.

Heat transport by parallel-roll convection in a rectangular container

1987 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. 205-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Walden ◽  
Paul Kolodner ◽  
A. Passner ◽  
C. M. Surko
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Infinite Layer ◽  
Lateral Extent ◽  
Prandtl Numbers ◽  
Rayleigh Numbers ◽  
Good Agreement

Heat-transport measurements are reported for thermal convection in a rectangular box of aspect’ ratio 10 x 5. Results are presented for Rayleigh numbers up to 35Rc, Prandtl numbers between 2 and 20, and wavenumbers between 0.6 and 1.0kc, where Rc and kc are the critical Rayleigh number and wavenumber for the onset of convection in a layer of infinite lateral extent. The measurements are in good agreement with a phenomenological model which combines the calculations of Nusselt number, as a function of Rayleigh number and roll wavenumber for two-dimensional convection in an infinite layer, with a nonlinear amplitude-equation model developed to account for sidewell attenuation. The appearance of bimodal convection increases the heat transport above that expected for simple parallel-roll convection.

Numerical simulation of two-dimensional compressible convection

1975 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Graham
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Local Sound ◽  
Constant Viscosity ◽  
Convection Problem

A procedure for obtaining numerical solutions to the equations describing thermal convection in a compressible fluid is outlined. The method is applied to the case of a perfect gas with constant viscosity and thermal conductivity. The fluid is considered to be confined in a rectangular region by fixed slippery boundaries and motions are restricted to two dimensions. The upper and lower boundaries are maintained at fixed temperatures and the side boundaries are thermally insulating. The resulting convection problem can be characterized by six dimension-less parameters. The onset of convection has been studied both by obtaining solutions to the nonlinear equations in the neighbourhood of the critical Rayleigh number Rc and by solving the linear stability problem. Solutions have been obtained for values of the Rayleigh number up to 100Rc and for pressure variations of a factor of 300 within the fluid. In some cases the fluid velocity is comparable to the local sound speed. The Nusselt number increases with decreasing Prandtl number for moderate values of the depth parameter. Steady finite amplitude solutions have been found in all the cases considered. As the horizontal dimension A of the rectangle is increased, the length of time needed to reach a steady state also increases. For large values of A the solution consists of a number of rolls. Even for small values of A, no solutions have been found where one roll is vertically above another.

Three-dimensional instability of axisymmetric buoyant convection in cylinders heated from below

1996 ◽  
Vol 326 ◽  
pp. 399-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wanschura ◽  
H. C. Kuhlmann ◽  
H. J. Rath
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Linear Stability ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Buoyant Convection ◽  
Thermal Boundary Conditions ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

The stability of steady axisymmetric convection in cylinders heated from below and insulated laterally is investigated numerically using a mixed finite-difference/Chebyshev collocation method to solve the base flow and the linear stability equations. Linear stability boundaries are given for radius to height ratios γ from 0.9 to 1.56 and for Prandtl numbers Pr = 0.02 and Pr = 1. Depending on γ and Pr, the azimuthal wavenumber of the critical mode may be m = 1, 2, 3, or 4. The dependence of the critical Rayleigh number on the aspect ratio and the instability mechanisms are explained by analysing the energy transfer to the critical modes for selected cases. In addition to these results the onset of buoyant convection in liquid bridges with stress-free conditions on the cylindrical surface is considered. For insulating thermal boundary conditions, the onset of convection is never axisymmetric and the critical azimuthal wavenumber increases monotonically with γ. The critical Rayleigh number is less then 1708 for most aspect ratios.

Thermal Convective Instabilities in a Porous Medium

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kaviany
Keyword(s):  
Porous Medium ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Saturated Porous Medium ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Linear Stability Theory ◽  
Onset Of Convection ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Nonlinear Temperature

The onset of convection due to a nonlinear and time-dependent temperature stratification in a saturated porous medium with upper and lower free surfaces is considered. The initial parabolic temperature distribution is due to uniform internal heating. The medium is then cooled by decreasing the upper surface temperature linearly with time. Linear stability theory is applied to the more formally developed governing equations. In order to obtain an asymptotic solution for transient problems involving very long time scales, the critical Rayleigh number for steady-state, nonlinear temperature distribution is also obtained. The effects of porosity, permeability, and Prandtl number on the time of the onset of convection are examined. The steady-state results show that the critical Rayleigh number depends only on the ratio of porosity to permeability and when this ratio exceeds a value of one thousand, the critical Rayleigh number is directly proportional to this ratio.

Effect of a stabilizing gradient of solute on thermal convection

1968 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Veronis
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Critical Rayleigh Number ◽  
Effective Diffusion ◽  
Stratified Fluid ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Oscillatory Motion ◽  
Linear Stability Theory ◽  
Onset Of Convection

A stabilizing gradient of solute inhibits the onset of convection in a fluid which is subjected to an adverse temperature gradient. Furthermore, the onset of instability may occur as an oscillatory motion because of the stabilizing effect of the solute. These results are obtained from linear stability theory which is reviewed briefly in the following paper before finite-amplitude results for two-dimensional flows are considered. It is found that a finite-amplitude instability may occur first for fluids with a Prandtl number somewhat smaller than unity. When the Prandtl number is equal to unity or greater, instability first sets in as an oscillatory motion which subsequently becomes unstable to disturbances which lead to steady, convecting cellular motions with larger heat flux. A solute Rayleigh number, Rs, is defined with the stabilizing solute gradient replacing the destabilizing temperature gradient in the thermal Rayleigh number. When Rs is large compared with the critical Rayleigh number of ordinary Bénard convection, the value of the Rayleigh number at which instability to finite-amplitude steady modes can set in approaches the value of Rs. Hence, asymptotically this type of instability is established when the fluid is marginally stratified. Also, as Rs → ∞ an effective diffusion coefficient, Kρ, is defined as the ratio of the vertical density flux to the density gradient evaluated at the boundary and it is found that κρ = √(κκs) where κ, κs are the diffusion coefficients for temperature and solute respectively. A study is made of the oscillatory behaviour of the fluid when the oscillations have finite amplitudes; the periods of the oscillations are found to increase with amplitude. The horizontally averaged density gradients change sign with height in the oscillating flows. Stably stratified fluid exists near the boundaries and unstably stratified fluid occupies the mid-regions for most of the oscillatory cycle. Thus the step-like behaviour of the density field which has been observed experimentally for time-dependent flows is encountered here numerically.

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