Flow structure formation of turbulent mixed convection in a closed rectangular cavity

Abstract

An experimental investigation of flow structure formation in turbulent mixed convection in a closed rectangular cavity with an aspect ratio of 1:1:5 and air as working fluid is presented. Mixed convection at Re = 1.1•10 4 and Ra = 3.0•108 is studied under well-defined conditions by combination of forced and thermal convection. The resulting flow structures strongly depend on the ratio of inertia and buoyancy forces. A 2D mean wind, which can be approximated by a solid body rotation, is found at pure forced convection. With increasing Archimedes number (Ar), realized by a temperature gradient between bottom and ceiling of the convection cell, this structure becomes instable. Leading to four convection rolls for Ar = 3.4, which are oriented in longitudinal direction of the cell, are observed. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.