Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection under strong non-Oberbeck-Boussinesq conditions
Hiufai Yik, Valentina Valori, Stephan Weiss
Abstract
Thermal convection experiments with strongly varying fluid properties, when the Oberbeck-Boussinesq (OB) condition is violated, are presented. By using compressed sulfur hexafluoride above its critical point, measurements with different degrees of fluid property variations are conducted, while keeping the Rayleigh and Prandtl number fixed. The vertical heat transport is significantly enhanced under non-OB conditions, which is explained with an increase of the density and heat capacity in the bulk due to asymmetries in the vertical temperature profile.
Topics & Concepts
Prandtl numberConvectionTurbulenceMechanicsRayleigh numberRayleigh scatteringPhysicsThermodynamicsRayleigh–Bénard convectionThermalConvective heat transferCombined forced and natural convectionNatural convectionMaterials scienceOpticsFluid Dynamics and Turbulent FlowsCombustion and flame dynamicsWind and Air Flow Studies