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High-Rayleigh-number convection in a horizontal enclosure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

R. J. Goldstein
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
H. D. Chiang
Affiliation:
Textron Lycoming, Stratford, CT 06497, USA
D. L. See
Affiliation:
Canterra Energy Ltd, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2K7, Canada

Abstract

A review of the literature on natural convection in a horizontal layer heated from below shows the need for reliable data at high Rayleigh number (Ra) to determine the asymptotic Nusselt number (Nu) variation with Rayleigh number. The present study expands the data base by the use of an electrochemical mass transfer technique to determine the asymptotic dependence of the Sherwood number (Sh) on Ra at high Schmidt number (Sc). The results of the present study give Sh = 0.0659 $Ra^{frac{1}{3}}$ for Sc ≈ 2750, 3 × 109 < Ra < 5 × 1012. Using the heat-mass transfer analogy, this indicates the high Prandtl number variation of Nu with Ra.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1990 Cambridge University Press

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