Thermal boundary layer and the characteristic length on natural convection over a horizontal plate

Thickness of the thermal boundary layer on natural convection from a horizontal plate was experimentally measured and expressed as a function of Rayleigh number both in laminar and turbulent regimes. Several parametric equations expressing the Nusselt number as a function of Rayleigh number were developed combining experimental data by other authors with the ones obtained in this work. The characteristic length was taken as the thickness of the thermal boundary layer in one equation and as the ratio of the area to the perimeter in another one. Both characteristic lengths correlated the data precisely in wide ranges of Rayleigh numbers.

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Analytic study on non-Newtonian natural convection boundary layer flow with variable wall temperature on a horizontal plate

The similarity transform for the steady free convection boundary layer flow of a non-Newtonian fluid (Casson model) with variable wall temperature on a horizontal plate gives a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which is solved analytically by applying a newly developed method namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The velocity and temperature profiles are obtained and the influence of Prandtl number and various physical parameters of the problem on these distributions are discussed in detail and are illustrated graphically through a set of graphs. The validity of our solutions is verified by the numerical results.     

Mixed convection boundary layer flow over a horizontal plate with thermal radiation

The effects of thermal radiation and thermal buoyancy on the steady, laminar boundary layer flow over a horizontal plate is investigated. The plate temperature is assumed to be inversely proportional to the square root of the distance from the leading edge. The set of similarity equations is solved numerically, and the solutions are given for some values of the radiation and buoyancy parameters for Prandtl number unity. It is found that dual solutions exist for negative values of the buoyancy parameter, up to certain critical values. Beyond these values, the solution does no longer exist. Moreover, it is found that there is no local heat transfer at the surface except in the singular point at the leading edge. The radiation parameter is found to increase the local Stanton number.     

Effects of sub-millimeter-bubble injection on transition to turbulence in natural convection boundary layer along a vertical plate in water

Temperature and velocity measurements are performed to clarify the effects of sub-millimeter-bubble injection on the transition to turbulence in the natural convection boundary layer along a vertical plate in water. In particular, we focus on the relationship between the bubble injection position L and the transition to turbulence in the natural convection boundary layer. The bubble injection positions used in our experiments are L = 1.6 and 3.6 mm. Bubble injection at L = 1.6 mm delays the transition to turbulence in the natural convection boundary layer, while that at L = 3.6 mm accelerates the transition to turbulence in the boundary layer. In the case of L = 1.6 mm, the appearance region of the liquid velocity fluctuation in the bubble-induced upward flow in the upstream unheated section is restricted to near the wall, although the peak of the liquid velocity fluctuation is high. In contrast, in the case of L = 3.6 mm, the relatively large liquid velocity fluctuation is distributed widely over the laminar boundary layer width. These results suggest that the effect of the liquid velocity fluctuation on the laminar boundary layer is quite different between L = 1.6 and 3.6 mm. It is therefore expected that the transition to turbulence in the natural convection boundary layer for the case with bubble injection is dependent on the magnitude and appearance region of the liquid velocity fluctuation in the bubble-induced upward flow in the upstream unheated section.     

Mixed convection boundary layer flow of a micropolar fluid on a horizontal plate with vectored mass transfer

A boundary layer analysis is presented to study the effects of vectored surface mass transfer and induced buoyancy streamwise pressure gradients on heat transfer to a horizontal plate placed in a micropolar fluid. Numerical solutions of the transformed boundary layer equations are obtained for different values of the mass transfer, buoyancy and material parameters. A discussion is provided for the effects of the vectored surface mass transfer and the buoyancy force on the friction factor and heat transfer rate.

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Grenzschichtströmung eines mikropolaren Fluids an einer horizontalen Platte mit gerichtetem Stoffaustausch bei Mischkonvektion

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Grenzschichtuntersuchung vorgestellt, welche den Einfluß eines gerichteten Oberflächen-Stoffaustauschs sowie eines auftriebsinduzierten Druckgradienten auf den Wärmeübergang an einer horizontalen, in einer mikropolaren Flüssigkeit befindlichen Platte klären soll. Für verschiedene Größen des Stoffaustauschs, des Auftriebs und der Stoffparameter lassen sich numerische Lösungen der transformierten Grenzschichtgleichungen gewinnen. Der Einfluß des gerichteten Stoffaustauschs und der Auftriebskräfte auf den Widerstandsbeiwert und den übertragenen Wärmestrom wird diskutiert.

     

Heat transfer enhancement in a turbulent natural convection boundary layer along a vertical flat plate

An experimental study on heat transfer enhancement for a turbulent natural convection boundary layer in air along a vertical flat plate has been performed by inserting a long flat plate in the spanwise direction (simple heat transfer promoter) and short flat plates aligned in the spanwise direction (split heat transfer promoter) with clearances into the near-wall region of the boundary layer. For a simple heat transfer promoter, the heat transfer coefficients increase by a peak value of approximately 37% in the downstream region of the promoter compared with those in the usual turbulent natural convection boundary layer. It is found from flow visualization and simultaneous measurements of the flow and thermal fields with hot- and cold-wires that such increase of heat transfer coefficients is mainly caused by the deflection of flows toward the outer region of the boundary layer and the invasion of low-temperature fluids from the outer region to the near-wall region with large-scale vortex motions riding out the promoter. However, heat transfer coefficients for a split heat transfer promoter exhibit an increase in peak value of approximately 60% in the downstream region of the promoter. Flow visualization and PIV measurements show that such remarkable heat transfer enhancement is attributed to longitudinal vortices generated by flows passing through the clearances of the promoter in addition to large-scale vortex motions riding out the promoter. Consequently, it is concluded that heat transfer enhancement of the turbulent natural convection boundary layer can be substantially achieved in a wide area of the turbulent natural convection boundary layer by employing multiple column split heat transfer promoters. It may be expected that the heat transfer enhancement in excess of approximately 40% can be accomplished by inserting such promoters.     

Unsteady natural convection from a vertical flat plate with suction

Summary Exact solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation neglecting dissipation terms for natural convection from a porous vertical flat plate have been obtained in the following two cases: (i) when the plate is suddenly raised to a uniform higher temperature, (ii) when the plate suddenly begins to generate a uniform heat flux at its surface. Expressions for the skin friction and coefficient of heat transfer at the plate have been obtained. Skin friction decreases with suction in both cases.     

Numerical investigation of a spatially developing turbulent natural convection boundary layer along a vertical heated plate

Large-eddy simulation (LES) on a spatially developing natural convection boundary layer along a vertical heated plate was conducted. The heat transfer rate, friction velocity, mean velocity and temperature, and second-order turbulent properties both in the wall-normal and the stream-wise direction showed reasonable agreement with the findings of past experiments. The spectrum of velocity and temperature fluctuation showed a -2/3-power decay slope and -2-power decay slope respectively. Quadrant analysis revealed the inclination on Q1 and Q3 in the Reynolds stress and turbulent heat flux, changing their contribution along the distance from the plate surface. Following the convention, we defined the threshold region where the stream-wise mean velocity takes local maximum, the inner layer which is closer to the plate than the threshold region, the outer layer which is farther to the plate than the threshold region. The space correlation of stream-wise velocity tilted the head toward the wall in the propagating direction in the outer layer; on the other hand, the correlated motion had little inclination in the threshold region. The time history of the second invariant of gradient tensor Q revealed that the vortex strength oscillates both in the inner and the outer layers in between the laminar and the transition region. In the turbulent region, the vortex was often dominant in the outer layer. Instantaneous three-dimensional visualization of Q revealed the existence of high-speed fluid parcels associated with arch-shape vortices. These results were considered as an intrinsic structure in the outer layer, which is symmetrical to the structure of canonical smooth/rough wall bounded layer flow in forced convection.     

An experimental research on the instability of natural convection boundary layer around a vertical heated flat plate

Experimental results on the instability of the isothermal naturalconvection boundary layer around a vertical heated flat plate are presented. It is demonstrated that the characteristics of the instability wave in the outer layer is consistent with the calculation of Brewster & Gebhart. After an initial growth of its low frequency components at the downstream side of the turning point of the neutral curve (Gr≈120) its comparatively higher frequency components develop and become turbulent subsequently with a buoyancy subrange in its power spectra. Simultaneously, in the measurement at the inner layer near the wall a viscous instability signal the same as the Tollmien-Schlichting waves in ordinary boundary layer and its subharmonics in a much higher frequency domain is discovered and an inertial subrange can be observed in the spectra atGr≈378.6. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19572004)     

自然对流边界层中湍流的发生

自然对流边界层中从层流到湍流的转捩经历了浮力振型、无摩擦振型和黏性振型的三重流动不稳定性相继产生的前转捩过程,以及近壁迅速出现强湍流源,随之平缓地向自模拟的湍流边界层过渡的热转捩过程.浮力振型在修正Grashof数G>40时开始失稳并成为主要振型,在振幅分布中3种振型的临界层位置处出现3个峰值;在G>100时浮力振型消失,无摩擦振型失稳并成为主要振型,振幅分布中在近壁区还出现黏性振型的峰值;在G>170时无摩擦振型经非线性演化在外层形成较弱的湍流,但内层黏性应力仍远高于湍流应力,振幅分布中仅有与黏性振型相应的峰值,在频谱中黏性振型的基频、第一、第二、第三阶亚谐频随G的增加相继出现,此时黏性不稳定波的高频成分已转化为湍流,但低频成分仍按线性规律增长,直至湍流惯性子区开始形成;至G>800时黏性振型消失,并在G=850附近时近壁区出现强湍流源,湍流应力、湍能产生项和近壁湍流热流率剧增.在热转捩后期,湍流应力和湍能产生项明显下降,流动在内外层趋于平衡.     

A new approach on MHD natural convection boundary layer flow past a flat plate of finite dimensions

A new approach on MHD natural convection boundary layer flow from a finite flat plate of arbitrary inclination in a rotating environment, is presented. This problem plays a significant role on boundary layer flow control. It is shown that taking into account the pressure rise region at the leading edge of the plate leads to avoid separation and the back flow is reduced by the strong magnetic field. It is also shown that the frictional drag at the leading edge of the plate is reduced when the inclination angle α=π/4. In the case of isothermal flat plate, the bulk temperature becomes identical for any value of Gr (Grashof number) when the value of M ² (Hartmann number) and K ² (rotation parameter) are kept fixed.     

Anisotropy measurements in the boundary layer over a flat plate with suction

Laser Doppler velocity measurements are carried out in a turbulent boundary layer subjected to concentrated wall suction (through a porous strip). The measurements are taken over a longitudinal distance of 9× the incoming boundary layer thickness ahead of the suction strip. The mean and rms velocity profiles are affected substantially by suction. Two-point measurements show that the streamwise and wall-normal autocorrelations of the streamwise velocity are reduced by suction. It is found that suction alters the redistribution of the turbulent kinetic energy k between its components. Relative to the no-suction case, the longitudinal Reynolds stress contributes more to k than the other two normal Reynolds stresses; in the outer region, its contribution is reduced which suggests structural changes in the boundary layer. This is observed in the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses, which depart from the non-disturbed boundary layer. With suction, the anisotropy level in the near-wall region appears to be stronger than that of the undisturbed layer. It is argued that the mean shear induced by suction on the flow is responsible for the alteration of the anisotropy. The variation of the anisotropy of the layer will make the development of a turbulence model quite difficult for the flow behind suction. In that respect, a turbulence model will need to reproduce well the effects of suction on the boundary layer, if the model is to capture the effect of suction on the anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses.     

Two-dimensional convection in a horizontal fluid layer with spatially periodic boundary temperatures

Two-dimensional thermal convection in a fluid layer confined between two horizontal rigid walls kept at spatially periodic temperatures is investigated by direct numerical simulations. With increasing the Rayleigh number, convection evolves from a steady state to a temporally chaotic flow. It is observed that the transition to the chaos occurs via quasi-periodic states with two or three basic frequencies or via sequences of period-doubling bifurcations, according to the boundary temperature distributions.     

The unstable modes of natural convection boundary layer

The instability of natural convection boundary layer around a vertical heated flat plate is analyzed theoretically in this paper. The results illustrate that the “loop” in the neutral curve is not a real loop but a twist of the curve in the frequency-wave number-Grashof number space, and there is only one unstable mode at small Prandtl numbers. Specially, when the Prandtl number is large enough two unstable modes will be found in the “loop” region. Along the amplyfying surface intersection the two unstable modes have the same Grashof number, wave number and frequency but different amplifying rates. Their instability characteristics are analyzed and the criterion for determining the existence of the multi-unstable modes is also discussed.     

Laminar boundary layer with uniform suction on flat plate in oscillating flow

We examine unsteady incompressible fluid flow in a laminar boundary layer with uniform suction for longitudinal flow over a flat plate when the external stream is a flow with constant velocity, on which there is superposed a sinusoidal disturbance convected by the stream, analogous to [1]. We study the stability of such flow in the boundary layer.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 66–70, May–June, 1970.     

Mixed convection boundary layer flow on a continuous flat plate with variable viscosity

The influences of variable viscosity and buoyancy force on laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer due to a continuous flat plate are examined. The deviation of the velocity and temperature fields as well as of the skin friction and heat transfer results from their constant values are determined by means of similarity solutions.