scholarly journals Effects of polymer additives in the bulk of turbulent thermal convection

2015 ◽  
Vol 784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Chao Xie ◽  
Shi-Di Huang ◽  
Denis Funfschilling ◽  
Xiao-Ming Li ◽  
Rui Ni ◽  
...  

We present experimental evidence that a minute amount of polymer additives can significantly enhance heat transport in the bulk region of turbulent thermal convection. The effects of polymer additives are found to be the enhancement of coherent heat fluxes and suppression of incoherent heat fluxes. The enhanced heat transport is associated with the increased coherency of thermal plumes, as a result of the suppression of small-scale turbulent fluctuations by polymers. The incoherent heat flux, arising from turbulent background fluctuations, makes no net contribution to heat transport. The fact that polymer additives can increase the coherency of thermal plumes is supported by the measurements of a number of local quantities, such as the extracted plume amplitude and width, the velocity autocorrelation functions and the velocity–temperature cross-correlation coefficient. The results from local measurements also suggest the existence of a threshold value for the polymer concentration, only above which significant modification of the plume coherent properties and enhancement of the local heat flux can be observed. Estimation of the plume emission rate suggests a stabilization of the thermal boundary layer by polymer additives.

2008 ◽  
Vol 595 ◽  
pp. 203-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. VERZICCO ◽  
K. R. SREENIVASAN

We numerically investigate turbulent thermal convection driven by a horizontal surface of constant heat flux and compare the results with those of constant temperature. Below Ra ≈ 109, where Ra is the Rayleigh number, when the flow is smooth and regular, the heat transport in the two cases is essentially the same. For Ra > 109 the heat transport for imposed heat flux is smaller than that for constant temperature, and is close to experimental data. We provide a simple dimensional argument to indicate that the unsteady emission of thermal plumes renders typical experimental conditions closer to the constant heat flux case.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Sauter ◽  
Stephan P. Galos

Abstract. Distributed mass balance models, which translate micrometeorological conditions into local melt rates, have proven deficient to reflect the energy flux variability on mountain glaciers. This deficiency is predominantly related to shortcomings in the representation of local processes in the forcing data. We found by means of idealized Large-Eddy Simulations that heat advection, associated with local wind systems, cause small-scale heat flux variations by up to 100 Wm−2 during clear sky conditions. Here we show that process understanding at a few on-glacier sites is insufficient to infer on the wind and temperature distributions across the glacier. On average, glacier heat fluxes are both over- and underestimated by up to 16 Wm−2 when using extrapolated temperature and wind fields. The sign and magnitude of the errors depend on the site selection as well as on the flow direction. Our results demonstrate how the shortcomings in the local heat flux estimates are related to topographic effects and the insufficient characterisation of the temperature advection process. The magnitudes of the surface heat flux errors are strong enough to significantly affect the surface energy balance and derived climate sensitivities of mountain glaciers.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Volle ◽  
Michel Gradeck ◽  
Denis Maillet ◽  
Arsène Kouachi ◽  
Michel Lebouché

A method using either a one-dimensional analytical or a two-dimensional numerical inverse technique is developed for measurement of local heat fluxes at the surface of a hot rotating cylinder submitted to the impingement of a subcooled water jet. The direct model calculates the temperature field inside the cylinder that is submitted to a given nonuniform and time dependent heat flux on its outer surface and to a uniform surface heat source on an inner radius. In order to validate the algorithms, simulated temperature measurements inside the cylinder are processed and used by the two inverse techniques to estimate the wall heat flux. As the problem is improperly posed, regularization methods have been introduced into the analytical and numerical inverse algorithms. The numerical results obtained using the analytical technique compare well with the results obtained using the numerical algorithm, showing a good stable estimation of the available test solutions. Furthermore, real experimental data are used for the estimation, and local boiling curves are plotted and discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. eaat7480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Wang ◽  
Pik-Yin Lai ◽  
Hao Song ◽  
Penger Tong

It is commonly believed that heat flux passing through a closed thermal convection system is balanced so that the convection system can remain at a steady state. Here, we report a new kind of convective instability for turbulent thermal convection, in which the convective flow stays over a long steady “quiet period” having a minute amount of heat accumulation in the convection cell, followed by a short and intermittent “active period” with a massive eruption of thermal plumes to release the accumulated heat. The rare massive eruption of thermal plumes disrupts the existing large-scale circulation across the cell and resets its rotational direction. A careful analysis reveals that the distribution of the plume eruption amplitude follows the generalized extreme value statistics with an upper bound, which changes with the fluid properties of the convecting medium. The experimental findings have important implications to many closed convection systems of geophysical scale, in which massive eruptions and sudden changes in large-scale flow pattern are often observed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 2397-2421 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Justin Small ◽  
Frank O. Bryan ◽  
Stuart P. Bishop ◽  
Robert A. Tomas

Abstract A traditional view is that the ocean outside of the tropics responds passively to atmosphere forcing, which implies that air–sea heat fluxes are mainly driven by atmosphere variability. This paper tests this viewpoint using state-of-the-art air–sea turbulent heat flux observational analyses and a climate model run at different resolutions. It is found that in midlatitude ocean frontal zones the variability of air–sea heat fluxes is not predominantly driven by the atmosphere variations but instead is forced by sea surface temperature (SST) variations arising from intrinsic oceanic variability. Meanwhile in most of the tropics and subtropics wind is the dominant driver of heat flux variability, and atmosphere humidity is mainly important in higher latitudes. The predominance of ocean forcing of heat fluxes found in frontal regions occurs on scales of around 700 km or less. Spatially smoothing the data to larger scales results in the traditional atmosphere-driving case, while filtering to retain only small scales of 5° or less leads to ocean forcing of heat fluxes over most of the globe. All observational analyses examined (1° OAFlux; 0.25° J-OFURO3; 0.25° SeaFlux) show this general behavior. A standard resolution (1°) climate model fails to reproduce the midlatitude, small-scale ocean forcing of heat flux: refining the ocean grid to resolve eddies (0.1°) gives a more realistic representation of ocean forcing but the variability of both SST and of heat flux is too high compared to observational analyses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 2103-2122 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Randolph Watts ◽  
Karen L. Tracey ◽  
Kathleen A. Donohue ◽  
Teresa K. Chereskin

AbstractThe 4-yr measurements by current- and pressure-recording inverted echo sounders in Drake Passage produced statistically stable eddy heat flux estimates. Horizontal currents in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) turn with depth when a depth-independent geostrophic current crosses the upper baroclinic zone. The dynamically important divergent component of eddy heat flux is calculated. Whereas full eddy heat fluxes differ greatly in magnitude and direction at neighboring locations within the local dynamics array (LDA), the divergent eddy heat fluxes are poleward almost everywhere. Case studies illustrate baroclinic instability events that cause meanders to grow rapidly. In the southern passage, where eddy variability is weak, heat fluxes are weak and not statistically significant. Vertical profiles of heat flux are surface intensified with ~50% above 1000 m and uniformly distributed with depth below. Summing poleward transient eddy heat transport across the LDA of −0.010 ± 0.005 PW with the stationary meander contribution of −0.004 ± 0.001 PW yields −0.013 ± 0.005 PW. A comparison metric, −0.4 PW, represents the total oceanic heat loss to the atmosphere south of 60°S. Summed along the circumpolar ACC path, if the LDA heat flux occurred at six “hot spots” spanning similar or longer path segments, this could account for 20%–70% of the metric, that is, up to −0.28 PW. The balance of ocean poleward heat transport along the remaining ACC path should come from weak eddy heat fluxes plus mean cross-front temperature transports. Alternatively, the metric −0.4 PW, having large uncertainty, may be high.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1149-1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Logemann ◽  
I. H. Harms

Abstract. The northward inflow of Atlantic Water through Denmark Strait – the North Icelandic Irminger Current (NIIC) – is simulated with a numerical model of the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. The model uses the technique of adaptive grid refinement which allows a high spatial resolution (1 km horizontal, 10 m vertical) around Iceland. The model is used to assess time and space variability of volume and heat fluxes for the years 1997–2003. Passive tracers are applied to study origin and composition of NIIC water masses. The NIIC originates from two sources: the Irminger Current, flowing as part of the sub-polar gyre in 100–500 m depth along the Reykjanes Ridge and the shallow Icelandic coastal current, flowing eastward on the south Icelandic shelf. The ratio between the deep and shallow branch is 0.7/0.2 Sv. The NIIC continues as a warm and saline branch northward through Denmark Strait where it entrains large amounts of polar water due to the collision with the southward flowing East Greenland Current. Tracer model results indicate that north of Denmark Strait at Hornbanki section (at 21°30' W from 66°40' N to 67°30' N), the NIIC is composed of 43% water masses of Atlantic origin (AW) originating from the south and 57% entrained polar or Arctic water masses (PW) coming from the north. After passing Denmark Strait, the NIIC follows the coast line north-eastward where it influences the hydrography of north Icelandic waters. Volume and heat transport is highly variable and depends strongly on the wind field north of Denmark Strait. Highest monthly mean transport rates at Hornbanki occur in summer (0.75 Sv) when northerly winds are weak, lowest transport is observed in winter (0.35 Sv). Summer heat flux rates (14 TW) can be even three times higher than in winter (4 TW). Strong variability can also be observed on the interannual scale. In particular the winter 2002/2003 showed anomalous high transport and heat flux rates. During the period 1997 to 2003 decreasing northerly winds caused an increase of the NIIC volume and heat transport by 30%, leading to a warming of North Icelandic shelf by around 0.5K.


Author(s):  
Sergey E. Yakush ◽  
Nazar T. Lubchenko ◽  
Pavel Kudinov

Coolability of an ex-vessel debris bed in severe accident conditions is considered from the risk perspective. The concept of “load versus capacity” is employed to quantify the probability of failure (local dryout). Possible choices of “load” and “capacity” in terms of heat fluxes, thermal power or melt mass are discussed. Results of Monte Carlo simulations of distribution functions for the local heat flux and the dryout heat flux at the debris bed top point (defined as the extensions of one-dimensional counterparts) are presented. A surrogate model for the dryout heat flux is developed by the generalization of two-dimensional simulation results. Dryout probabilities are obtained under the conservative assumptions (neglecting the coolability improvement due to side ingress of water into a non-flat debris bed), and from the surrogate model. Outlook is given for the prospective development of the risk-informed approach to debris bed coolability in the context of comprehensive severe accident risk analysis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
André Günther ◽  
Wieland Uffrecht ◽  
Stefan Odenbach

This paper discusses experimental results from a two-cavity test rig representation of the internal air system of a high-pressure compressor. Thermal steady-state measurements of the time-averaged local heat fluxes on both sides of the middle disk are presented for three different flow regimes: pure axial throughflow of cooling air and axial throughflow of cooling air in two directions with a superposed radial inflow of hot air in one cavity. Mass flow ratios between 1/40 < mrad/max < 2/1 are measured. Tests were carried out for a wide range of non-dimensional parameters: Reφ up to 107, Rez up to 2 × 105, and Cw up to −2.5 × 104. In all cases, the shroud is uniformly heated to approximately 100 °C. The local axial heat fluxes are determined separately for both sides of the middle disk from measurements of the surface temperatures with open spot-welded thermo-couples. The method of heat flux determination and an analysis approach calculating the uncertainties and the sensitivity are described and discussed. The local heat flux results of the different flow paths are compared and interpreted by assumed flow structures. The time-averaged heat flux results can be adequately interpreted by flow structures of two toroidal vortices for axial throughflow and a source-sink flow for the radial inflow. The measurements show that the axial heat flux can change direction, i.e., areas exist where the disk is heated and not cooled by the flow. For axial throughflow, a local minimum of heat flux exists on the impinged side in the range of x = 0.65. On the back side, a heating area exists in all tests in the lower half of the disk (x < 0.6) due to recirculated air of higher temperature. This heating area corresponds to the range of the inner vortex and increases with higher axial and rotational Reynolds numbers.


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