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High-Rayleigh-number convection of pressurized gases in a horizontal enclosure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2002

A. S. FLEISCHER
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA 19085, USAamy.fleischer@villanova.edu
R. J. GOLDSTEIN
Affiliation:
Heat Transfer Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USArjg@me.umn.edu

Abstract

High-pressure gases are used to study high-Rayleigh-number Rayleigh–Bénard convection in cylindrical horizontal enclosures. The Nusselt–Rayleigh heat transfer relationship is investigated for 1×109 < Ra < 1.7×1012. Schlieren video images of the flow field are recorded through optical viewports in the pressure vessel. The data set is well correlated by Nu = 0.071Ra0.328. The schlieren results confirm the existence of a large-scale flow that periodically interrupts the ascending and descending plumes. The intensity of both the plumes and the large-scale flow increases with Rayleigh number.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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