Forced and mixed convection experiments in a confined vertical backward facing step at low-Prandtl number

In this paper, we present experimental results for a non-isothermal vertical confined backward facing step conducted with a low-Prandtl number fluid. The eutectic alloy gallium–indium–tin is used as the working fluid. We conducted experiments for different Reynolds and Richardson numbers covering both forced and mixed convection regimes. Time-averaged velocity profiles were measured at six streamwise positions along the test section center-plane with so-called permanent magnet probes. The local Nusselt number was measured in streamwise and spanwise directions along the heating plate mounted right after the step. We further ran RANS simulations of the experiment to study the qualitative influence of assuming a constant specific heat flux thermal boundary condition for the experiment heating plate. The measured velocity profiles show the expected behavior for both studied convection regimes, while the measured streamwise local Nusselt number profiles do not. This is explained by how the heating plate thermal boundary condition is defined. We performed an order of magnitude estimate to estimate the forced- to mixed convection transition onset. The estimate shows good agreement with the experimental data, although further measurements are needed to further validate the estimated transition threshold. The measurement of fluctuating quantities remains an open task to be addressed in future experiments, since the permanent magnet probe measurement equation needs further adjustments. Graphical Abstract

Unsteady MHD free convection flow past a vertical permeable flat plate in a rotating frame of reference with constant heat source and variable thermal boundary condition in a nanofluid

The problem of unsteady magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) free convection flow of nano-fluid past an oscillation moving vertical semi-infinite permeable flat plate with constant heat source and vertical variable thermal boundary condition in a rotating frame of reference is studied theoretically. The boundary layer has the oscillatory type of solution because slip velocity is assumed to oscillate in time with constant frequency. The governing equations are solved using small perturbation approximation. For this investigation, we use two types of nano-particles in base fluid, namely Cu (copper) and Al2O3 (aluminium oxide). The effect of various types of suspended metallic nano-particles and non-dimensional physical parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer rate are presented and discussed through the graphs.

Tilt Pad Bearing Distributed Pad Inlet Temperature with Machine Learning -Part II: Morton Effect

The Morton Effect (ME) occurs when a bearing journal experiences asymmetric heating due to synchronous vibration, resulting in thermal bowing of the shaft and increasing vibration. An accurate prediction of the journal's asymmetric temperature distribution is critical for reliable ME simulation. This distribution is strongly influenced by the film thermal boundary condition at the pad inlets. Part I utilizes machine learning ML to obtain a 2D radial and axial distribution of temperatures over the leading edge film cross section. The hybrid finite volume method FVM – bulk flow method of Part I eliminated film temperature discontinuities, and is utilized in Part II for improving accuracy and efficiency of ME simulation.

Effects of thermal boundary conditions on rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection with implications on geophysical and astrophysical systems

<p>Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC) is a fluid phenomenon that has been studied for over a century because of its utility in simplifying very complex physical systems. Many geophysical and astrophysical systems, including planetary core dynamics and components of weather prediction, are modeled by including rotational forcing in classic RBC. Our understanding of these systems is confined by experimental and numerical limits, as well as theoretical assumptions. </p><p>The role of thermal boundary condition choice on experimental studies of geophysical and astrophysical systems has been often been overlooked, which could account for some lack of agreement between experimental and numerical models as well as the actual flows. The typical thermal boundary conditions prescribed at the top and the bottom of a convection system are fixed temperature conditions, despite few real geophysical systems being bounded with a fixed temperature. A constant heat flux is generally more applicable for real large-scale geophysical systems. However, when this condition is applied in numerical systems, the lack of fixed temperature can cause a temperature drift. In this study, we seek to minimize temperature drifting by applying a fixed temperature condition on one boundary and a fixed thermal flux on the other.</p><p>Experimental boundary conditions are also often assumed to be a fixed temperature. However, the actual condition is determined by the ratio of the height and thermal conductivity of the boundary material to that of the contained fluid, known as the Biot number. The relationship between the Biot number and thermal boundary condition behavior is defined by the Robin, or 'thin-lid', boundary condition such that low Biot number boundaries are essentially fixed thermal flux and high Biot number boundaries are essentially fixed temperature. </p><p>This study seeks to strengthen the link between numerical and experimental models and geophysical flows by investigating the effects of thermal boundary conditions and their relationship to real-world processes. Both fixed temperature and fixed flux boundary conditions are considered. In addition, the Robin boundary condition is studied at a range of Biot numbers spanning from fixed temperature to fixed flux, allowing intermediate conditions to be investigated. Each system is studied at increasingly rapid rotation rates, corresponding to decreasing Ekman numbers as low as Ek=10<sup>-5</sup> Heat transport is analyzed using the Nusselt number, Nu, and the form of the solution is described by the number of convection rolls and time-dependency. Further investigations will analyze Nu and fluid movement within a system with heterogeneous heat flux condition on the  sidewall boundary conditions, which is useful in the study of planetary core dynamics. The results of this study have implications for improvements in modeling geophysical systems both experimentally and numerically. </p>

Asymmetrical Thermal Boundary Condition Influence on the Flow Structure and Heat Transfer Performance of Paramagnetic Fluid-Forced Convection in the Strong Magnetic Field

Continuous interest in space journeys opens the research fields, which might be useful in non-terrestrial conditions. Due to the lack of the gravitational force, there will be a need to force the flow for mixing or heat transfer. Strong magnetic field offers the conditions, which can help to obtain the flow. In light of this origin, presented paper discusses the dually modified Graetz-Brinkman problem. The modifications were related to the presence of the magnetic field influencing the flow and asymmetrical thermal boundary condition. Dimensionless numerical analysis was performed, and two dimensionless numbers (magnetic Grashof number and magnetic Richardson number) were defined for paramagnetic fluid flow. The results revealed the heat transfer enhancement due to the strong magnetic field influence accompanied by possible but not essential flow structure modifications. On the other hand, the flow structure changes can be utilized to prevent the solid particles’ sedimentation. The explanation of the heat transfer enhancement including energy budget and vorticity distribution was presented.