Plume dynamics in quasi-2D turbulent convection

We have studied turbulent convection in a vertical thin (Hele-Shaw) cell at very high Rayleigh numbers (up to 7x10(4) times the value for convective onset) through experiment, simulation, and analysis. Experimentally, convection is driven by an imposed concentration gradient in an isothermal cell. Model equations treat the fields in two dimensions, with the reduced dimension exerting its influence through a linear wall friction. Linear stability analysis of these equations demonstrates that as the thickness of the cell tends to zero, the critical Rayleigh number and wave number for convective onset do not depend on the velocity conditions at the top and bottom boundaries (i.e., no-slip or stress-free). At finite cell thickness delta, however, solutions with different boundary conditions behave differently. We simulate the model equations numerically for both types of boundary conditions. Time sequences of the full concentration fields from experiment and simulation display a large number of solutal plumes that are born in thin concentration boundary layers, merge to form vertical channels, and sometimes split at their tips via a Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Power spectra of the concentration field reveal scaling regions with slopes that depend on the Rayleigh number. We examine the scaling of nondimensional heat flux (the Nusselt number, Nu) and rms vertical velocity (the Peclet number, Pe) with the Rayleigh number (Ra(*)) for the simulations. Both no-slip and stress-free solutions exhibit the scaling NuRa(*) approximately Pe(2) that we develop from simple arguments involving dynamics in the interior, away from cell boundaries. In addition, for stress-free solutions a second relation, Nu approximately nPe, is dictated by stagnation-point flows occurring at the horizontal boundaries; n is the number of plumes per unit length. No-slip solutions exhibit no such organization of the boundary flow and the results appear to agree with Priestley's prediction of Nu approximately Ra(1/3). (c) 1997 American Institute of Physics.     

Transient reemergent order in convective spatial chaos

Transient turbulent states leading to a stable convective structure have been observed in Rayleigh-Bénard convection at high Rayleigh number and in confined geometry. This turbulent state consists in alternating sequences of spatial chaos stochastically interrupted by intermittent lockings on definite convective structures.     

Marangoni instability of a liquid layer with insoluble surfactant under heat flux modulation

We investigate the parametric excitation of Marangoni convection by a periodic flux modulation in a liquid layer with insoluble surfactant absorbed on the nondeformable free surface. The stability analysis of the convective system is performed for arbitrary wave numbers of the disturbances. An interesting feature of the onset of convection is the existence of bifurcating neutral curves with double minima, one of which corresponds to a quasi-periodic solution, and the other one corresponds to a subharmonic solution. The evolution of the subharmonic instability region depending on the amplitude of the external heat flux modulation and the frequency of the modulation is studied. The quasi-periodic neutral curve is close to the oscillatory neutral curve of the nonmodulated problem.     

Oscillatory convection and chaos in a Lorenz-type model of a rotating fluid

A four-mode model of convection in a rotating fluid layer is studied. The model is an extension of the Lorenz model of Rayleigh-Bénard convection, the extra mode accounting for the regeneration of vorticity by rotation. Perturbation theory is applied to show that the Hopf bifurcations from conductive and steady convective solutions can be either supercritical or subcritical. Perturbation theory is also used at large Rayleigh numbersr to predict novel behavior. Supercritical oscillatory convection of finite amplitude is found by numerical integration of the governing equations. The general picture is of a series of oscillatory solutions stable over larger intervals, interspersed by short bursts of chaos.     

Linear stability analysis of the natural convection in inclined rotating parallel plates

The linear stability analysis of the natural convection in a rectangular tilted infinite cavity filled with a Boussinesq fluid subject to Coriolis force is presented. The bottom and top surfaces have fixed temperatures. Both unstable and stable thermal conditions are studied (heated from below and heated from above respectively). The rotation axis passes through the center and it is orthogonal to the hot and cold surfaces. The stability equations were solved using the Tau–Chebyshev spectral method. The critical Rayleigh number and critical wave number were obtained for several rotation rates and different orientation of convective oblique rolls in a range of inclination of the cavity from 0 to 120 degrees. The stability analysis show that rotation rate affects the basic velocity profile, onset of convection, wave number and critical orientation of convective rolls.     

分离比对混合流体Rayleigh-Bénard对流解的影响

混合流体Rayleigh-Bénard对流是研究非平衡对流的非线性动力学特性的典型模型之一.基于流体力学方程组的数值模拟,首先探讨了矩形腔体中具有强Soret效应(分离比Ψ=-0.60)的混合流体行波对流的分叉特性及斑图演化,沿着分叉曲线的上部分支,随着相对瑞利数的增加,此系统依次出现了局部行波对流、具有缺陷的行波对流、行波对流、摆动行波对流及定常对流5种行波对流解.然后,研究了分离比Ψ对对流解的影响,与弱Soret效应(Ψ=-0.11)时的对流解相比较,强Soret效应(Ψ=-0.60)时出现的对流解更丰富.由于有强Soret效应的对流的复杂性,Ψ=-0.60时的对流解与Ψ=-0.20,-0.4时的对流解不同.     

A HOLOGRAPHIC INTERFEROMETRY STUDY OF THE DOUBLE-DIFFUSIVE LAYERED SYSTEM

This study investigates double-diffusive convection in a two-layer, salt-stratified solution destablized by lateral Keating and cooling. The two-wavelength holographic interferometry method was used to measure the transient temperature, concentration, and density distributions. The evolution of the two-layered system can be divided into three stages. In the first stage, the thermally driven convective layers form rapidly, and the existing diffusion layer adjusts itself into a thin interface by convection motion. In the second stage, a quasi-steady state is attained. The temperature distribution is S-type and the temperature difference across the diffusion region does not change much. The concentration distribution is uniform in the two fluid layers, but the concentration and density differences decrease linearly with time. When the interface becomes very thin, unstable finger-type convection appears. Finally, the interface is destroyed by the boundary layers at the side walls in the third stage. The interfacial Nusselt number and Sherwood number art found to increase with the thermal Rayleigh number, and the effect of the solutal Rayleigh number seems to be less significant. The dimemumless mixing time is found to correlate well with thermal and solutal Rayleigh numbers. Results from numerical simulation are demonstrated and compared with the experiments.     

Stability of steady thermal convection in a tilted rectangular cavity in low-mode approximation

The model system of ordinary differential equations [1, 2] governing the behavior of a non-uniformly heated fluid in a tilted cavity is used for studying the stability of steady regimes of thermal convection at arbitrary (not small) tilting of the rectangular cavity. The bifurcation curve is constructed, which separates the region of parameters (the Rayleigh number — the cavity tilting angle) into two regions — the internal and external ones. In the external region, the system has one stable steady solution, and in the internal region, it has three steady solutions. One of them is always unstable in a monotone way, and two others may be both stable and unstable. The neutral curves are constructed, which determine the boundaries of the incipience of the oscillatory and monotone instabilities. The work was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 07-01-96070).     

黑腔冷冻靶传热与自然对流的数值模拟研究

惯性约束聚变的设计要求在靶丸内形成均匀光滑的氘氚冰层, 靶丸周围的热环境对冰层的质量特别是低阶粗糙度有很大的影响. 本文对自主研发的黑腔冷冻靶实验装置中的热物理问题展开了数值模拟, 重点考察了黑腔冷冻靶的传热和流体力学特性. 通过参数分析得到了自然对流对靶丸温度均匀性产生影响的临界条件. 比较了黑腔不同布置朝向时的流场和温度分布, 结果显示黑腔水平布置时自然对流更加强烈, 造成的靶丸温度不均匀性也更大. 在此基础上, 讨论了消除自然对流影响的可能性, 结果发现仅当黑腔垂直布置时利用黑腔分区方法能够消除对流效应对靶丸温度不均匀性的影响而黑腔水平布置时不能消除. 研究结论对于实验中冷冻靶结构的设计、改进和实验的开展等具有指导意义.     

Mode-to-mode energy transfers in convective patterns

We investigate the energy transfer between various Fourier modes in a low-dimensional model for thermal convection. We have used the formalism of mode-to-mode energy transfer rate in our calculation. The evolution equations derived using this scheme is the same as those derived using the hydrodynamical equations for thermal convection in Boussinesq fluids. Numerical and analytical studies of this model show that convective rolls appear as the Rayleigh number R is raised above its critical value R _c. Further increase of Rayleigh number generates rolls in the perpendicular directions as well, and we obtain a dynamic asymmetric square pattern. This pattern is due to Hopf bifurcation. There are two sets of limit cycles corresponding to the two competing asymmetric square patterns. When the Rayleigh number is increased further, the limit cycles become unstable simultaneously, and chaotic motion sets in. The onset of chaos is via intermittent route. The trajectories wander for quite a long time almost periodically before jumping irregularly to one of the two ghost limit cycles.     

Analytical estimates of permeability and possible convective heat transfer in compact porous fluid–saturated rocks

The possible occurrence of convection in fine-grained (low-porous <15%) fluid-saturated (argon, water) rocks under hydrostatic pressures of up to 100 MPa is studied. Calculations of the Rayleigh filtration number and the Darcy number are presented. It is shown that the convective motion of fluid does not occur in pore-saturating fluids within the considered range of pressure variation, pore sizes, and temperature differences.     

Linear stability analysis on the onset of Soret-driven motion in a nanoparticles suspension

The onset of Soret-driven instability in binary mixture heated from above is analysed using the linear stability theory. The horizontal fluid layer placed between two plates is in a thermally stable state but the Soret diffusion can induce buoyancy-driven convection in the case of a negative Soret coefficient. It is well known that convective motion sets in from both boundaries if the Rayleigh number exceeds its critical value. For the case of highly unstable density stratification the buoyancy-driven motion sets in during the transient diffusion stage. The new stability equations are derived and are solved analytically and numerically. Here the stability limits which are related to the onset time of instabilities and wave number are presented as a function of the Rayleigh number, Lewis number and the separation ratio. The present stability criteria are compared with the existing experimental data.     

高Rayleigh数条件下竖圆环夹层内自然对流换热的实验研究

对内壁维持恒热流和外壁向环境冷却的大高宽比竖圆环夹层内自然对流换热进行了实验研究。实验装置高宽比分别为２３５和６６６７，半径比分别为２．０３和３．９２。实验数据整理考虑了热辐射影响以获得对流规律。由于已有工作均未考虑高Ｒａ数区域，首次得到Ｒａ数高达１０￣９的区域内平均Ｎｕ数的换热准则式。在低Ｒａ数区域，亦取得了与前人工作一致的结论。本文结果改进了高Ｒａ数区域换热规律的预测能力。     

Dilatation and pattern formation of cells in internally heated convection

The dilatation and the pattern formation of convection cells in natural convection driven by internal heat generation, first investigated during the 1970s, are reexamined in this paper using an improved experimental apparatus in order to reduce uncertainties as much as possible. The convective motion in the fluid layer was visualized using reflecting particles (Kalliroscope). Cell dilatation was confirmed in the improved experimental apparatus and then investigated quantitatively by extracting the pattern wavenumber from Fourier analysis of the images recorded by a digital camera. The pattern wavenumber was found to decrease with increasing Rayleigh number. We compare our results with earlier investigations and discuss the influence of the thermal boundary condition at the bottom of the fluid layer on the variation of the wavenumber. Two different structures were observed in the same fluid layer at a relatively high Rayleigh number; an additional cell appears in the original cell (Double cell structure) and the descending flow region around the center of the cell expands laterally like a spoke of wheels (Spoke-like structure). Factors for the formation of such complex structures are discussed.     

Quantifying the dynamic density driven convection in high permeability packed beds

The density driven convection phenomenon is expected to have a significant and positive role in CO₂ geological storage capacity and safety. The onset and development of density-driven convective on the core scale is critical to understand the mass transfer mechanism. In this paper, laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the density-driven convective in a vertical tube. The deuterium oxide (D₂O)/manganese chloride (MnCl₂) water solution in water or brine were as an analog for CO₂-rich brine in original brine. Experiments are repeated with variations in permeability to vary the characteristic Rayleigh number. Based on the MRI technology, the intensity images showed the interface clearly, reflecting the transition from diffusion to convective. With the echo-multi-slice pulse sequence method, the intensity images can be obtained as 2 min 8 s. For the denser fluid pairs, fingers appeared, propagated, coalesced and multi-fingers formed. The finger growth rate of the convective was visualized as three distinct periods: rising, stable and declining. Detailed information regarding the wave number, wave length, onset time and mixing time as functions of Rayleigh number are developed.     

Combined action of different mechanisms of convective instability in multilayer systems

The nonlinear regimes of convection in a system of three immiscible viscous fluids are investigated by the finite-difference method. We study new phenomena caused by direct and indirect interaction of thermocapillary and buoyancy (Rayleigh and anticonvective) instability mechanisms. Two variants of heating-from below and from above-are considered. The interfaces are assumed to be flat. We focus on nonlinear evolution of steady and oscillatory motions and selection of stable convective structures depending on the parameters of systems. The influence of the lateral boundary conditions is also investigated. A classification of different variants of interaction between Rayleigh and thermocapillary instability mechanisms is presented, and several typical examples are studied. Specifically, we considered six different configurations where the Rayleigh convection arises mainly in a definite layer, and the thermocapillary convection appears mainly near the definite interface. Also, the case where both interfaces are active and alternatively play a dominant role is investigated. Some configurations of interaction between anticonvective and thermocapillary instability mechanisms are considered.     

Plume statistics in thermal turbulence: mixing of an active scalar

Statistical properties of the temperature field in turbulent convection are studied experimentally. We show that the skewness of the plus and minus temperature increments can be used to quantitatively characterize the mixing zone in the convective flow and the result reveals how the mixing zone evolves with the Rayleigh number. We also present evidence for the saturation of the temperature structure function exponent and that the saturation is related to thermal plumes. A more direct study of the thermal plumes suggests that their sizes have a distribution that is approximately log-normal.     

Laminar free convection heat transfer between vertical isothermal plates

The paper represents results on numerical investigation of flow and heat transfer between two isothermal vertical plates under laminar natural convection. A system of complete Navier–Stokes equations is solved for a two-dimensional gas flow between the plates along with additional rectangular regions (connected to inlet and outlet sections), whose characteristic sizes are much greater than the spacing between the plates. The calculations were performed over very wide ranges of Rayleigh number Ra = 10 ÷ 10⁵ and a relative channel length AR = L/w = 1 ÷ 500. The influence of the input parameters on the gas-dynamic and thermal structure of thermogravitational convection, the local and mean heat transfer, and also the gas flow rate between the plates (convective draft. We determined sizes of the regions and regime parameters when the local heat flux on the walls tends to zero due to the gas temperature approach to the surface temperature. It is shown that the mean heat transfer decreases as the relative channel length AR grows, whereas the integral gas flow rate (convective draft) and Reynolds number in the channel Re = 2wUm/ν increase. The use of a modified Rayleigh number Ra* = Ra · (w/L) (Elenbaas number) leads to generalization of calculation data on mean heat transfer. These data are in good agreement with the correlations for heat transfer [1, 2] and gas flow rate [3]. The reasons of variation of the data in the range of low Rayleigh numbers are discussed in detail.     

Numerical simulations of electro-thermo-convection and heat transfer in 2D cavity

In this article the electro-thermo-convective phenomena in a dielectric liquid enclosed in a 2D cavity and subjected to the simultaneous action of an electric field and a thermal gradient is studied. We solved directly the full set of coupled equations of Electro-Hydro-Dynamic (EHD) and energy equation using a finite volume method. In order to characterize the influence of the electric field on heat transfer the liquid is first heated (from a lateral wall) till the thermal steady state is obtained and then the electric potential and injection of electric charge is applied. Two cases of injection are considered: from the lower electrode and from a lateral wall (left or right). The flow pattern and Nusselt number strongly depend on the non-dimensional characteristic parameters: electrical parameter, Rayleigh number, Prandtl number and mobility parameter M. The convective motion passing from a purely thermal convection to a purely electrical convection and the number of electro-thermo-convective rolls patterns are investigated.As a consequence of the analysis of the combined effect of electric and thermal fields on the flow structure and on Nusselt number, we have also evaluated the heat transfer enhancement due to electroconvection. It is shown that the injection of electric charge increases the heat transfer and Nusselt number is independent of Rayleigh number for high enough values of T.     

Periodic boundary motion in thermal turbulence

A free-floating plate is introduced in a Benard convection cell with an open surface. It partially covers the cell and distorts the local heat flux, inducing a coherent flow that in turn moves the plate. Remarkably, the plate can be driven to a periodic motion even under the action of a turbulent fluid. The period of the oscillation depends on the coverage ratio, and on the Rayleigh number of the convective system. The plate oscillatory behavior observed in this experiment may be related to a geological model, in which continents drift in a quasiperiodic fashion.