Linear stability and energetics of rotating radial horizontal convection

2016 ◽  
Vol 795 ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Sheard ◽  
Wisam K. Hussam ◽  
Tzekih Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Horizontal Convection ◽  
The Mean

The effect of rotation on horizontal convection in a cylindrical enclosure is investigated numerically. The thermal forcing is applied radially on the bottom boundary from the coincident axes of rotation and geometric symmetry of the enclosure. First, a spectral element method is used to obtain axisymmetric basic flow solutions to the time-dependent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations coupled via a Boussinesq approximation to a thermal transport equation for temperature. Solutions are obtained primarily at Rayleigh number $\mathit{Ra}=10^{9}$ and rotation parameters up to $Q=60$ (where $Q$ is a non-dimensional ratio between thermal boundary layer thickness and Ekman layer depth) at a fixed Prandtl number $\mathit{Pr}=6.14$ representative of water and enclosure height-to-radius ratio $H/R=0.4$. The axisymmetric solutions are consistently steady state at these parameters, and transition from a regime unaffected by rotation to an intermediate regime occurs at $Q\approx 1$ in which variation in thermal boundary layer thickness and Nusselt number are shown to be governed by a scaling proposed by Stern (1975, Ocean Circulation Physics. Academic). In this regime an increase in $Q$ sees the flow accumulate available potential energy and more strongly satisfy an inviscid change in potential energy criterion for baroclinic instability. At the strongest $Q$ the flow is dominated by rotation, accumulation of available potential energy ceases and horizontal convection is suppressed. A linear stability analysis reveals several instability mode branches, with dominant wavenumbers typically scaling with $Q$. Analysis of contributing terms of an azimuthally averaged perturbation kinetic energy equation applied to instability eigenmodes reveals that energy production by shear in the axisymmetric mean flow is negligible relative to that produced by conversion of available potential energy from the mean flow. An evolution equation for the quantity that facilitates this exchange, the vertical advective buoyancy flux, reveals that a baroclinic instability mechanism dominates over $5\lesssim Q\lesssim 30$, whereas stronger and weaker rotations are destabilised by vertical thermal gradients in the mean flow.

Study of the Mechanisms of Vortex Variability in the Lofoten Basin Based on the Energy Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Travkin ◽  
◽  
T. V. Belonenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Baroclinic Instability ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Barotropic Instability ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Kinetic Energy

Purpose. The Lofoten Basin is one of the most energetic zones of the World Ocean characterized by high activity of mesoscale eddies. The study is aimed at analyzing different components of general energy in the basin, namely the mean kinetic and vortex kinetic energy calculated using the integral of the volume of available potential and kinetic energy of the Lofoten Vortex, as well as variability of these characteristics. Methods and Results. GLORYS12V1 reanalysis data for the period 2010–2018 were used. The mean kinetic energy and the eddy kinetic one were analyzed; and as for the Lofoten Vortex, its volume available potential and kinetic energy were studied. The mesoscale activity of eddies in winter is higher than in summer. Evolution of the available potential energy and kinetic energy of the Lofoten Vortex up to the 1000 m horizon was studied. It is shown that the vortex available potential energy exceeds the kinetic one by an order of magnitude, and there is a positive trend with the coefficient 0,23⋅1015 J/year. It was found that in the Lofoten Basin, the intermediate layer from 600 to 900 m made the largest contribution to the potential energy, whereas the 0–400 m layer – to kinetic energy. The conversion rates of the mean kinetic energy into the vortex kinetic one and the mean available potential energy into the vortex available potential one (barotropic and baroclinic instability) were analyzed. It is shown that the first type of transformation dominates in summer, while the second one is characterized by its increase in winter. Conclusions. The vertical profile shows that the kinetic energy of eddies in winter is higher than in summer. The available potential energy of a vortex is by an order of magnitude greater than the kinetic energy. An increase in the available potential energy is confirmed by a significant positive trend and by a decrease in the vortex Burger number. The graphs of the barotropic instability conversion rate demonstrate the multidirectional flows in the vortex zone with the dipole structure observed in a winter period, and the tripole one – in summer. The barotropic instability highest intensity is observed in summer. The baroclinic instability is characterized by intensification of the regime in winter that is associated with weakening of stratification in this period owing to winter convection.

The structure of a highly decelerated axisymmetric turbulent boundary layer

2021 ◽  
Vol 929 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Agastya Balantrapu ◽  
Christopher Hickling ◽  
W. Nathan Alexander ◽  
William Devenport
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Shear Layer ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Convection Velocity ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean

Experiments were performed over a body of revolution at a length-based Reynolds number of 1.9 million. While the lateral curvature parameters are moderate ( $\delta /r_s < 2, r_s^+>500$ , where $\delta$ is the boundary layer thickness and r s is the radius of curvature), the pressure gradient is increasingly adverse ( $\beta _{C} \in [5 \text {--} 18]$ where $\beta_{C}$ is Clauser’s pressure gradient parameter), representative of vehicle-relevant conditions. The mean flow in the outer regions of this fully attached boundary layer displays some properties of a free-shear layer, with the mean-velocity and turbulence intensity profiles attaining self-similarity with the ‘embedded shear layer’ scaling (Schatzman & Thomas, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 815, 2017, pp. 592–642). Spectral analysis of the streamwise turbulence revealed that, as the mean flow decelerates, the large-scale motions energize across the boundary layer, growing proportionally with the boundary layer thickness. When scaled with the shear layer parameters, the distribution of the energy in the low-frequency region is approximately self-similar, emphasizing the role of the embedded shear layer in the large-scale motions. The correlation structure of the boundary layer is discussed at length to supply information towards the development of turbulence and aeroacoustic models. One major finding is that the estimation of integral turbulence length scales from single-point measurements, via Taylor's hypothesis, requires significant corrections to the convection velocity in the inner 50 % of the boundary layer. The apparent convection velocity (estimated from the ratio of integral length scale to the time scale), is approximately 40 % greater than the local mean velocity, suggesting the turbulence is convected much faster than previously thought. Closer to the wall even higher corrections are required.

Momentum and Thermal Boundary-layer Thickness in a Stagnation Flow Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1112-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Dandy ◽  
Jungheum Yun
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Chemical Vapor Deposition ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Vapor Deposition ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Chemical Vapor ◽  
Square Root ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer Thickness

Explicit expressions have been derived for momentum and thermal boundary-layer thickness of the laminar, uniform stagnation flows characteristic of highly convective chemical vapor deposition pedestal reactors. Expressions for the velocity and temperature profiles within the boundary layers have also been obtained. The results indicate that, to leading order, the momentum boundary-layer thickness is inversely proportional to the square root of the Reynolds number, while the thermal boundary-layer thickness is inversely proportional to the square root of the Peclet number. Values computed using the approximate expressions are compared directly with numerical solutions of the equations of motion and thermal energy equation, for a specific set of conditions typical of diamond chemical vapor deposition. Because values of the Lewis number do not vary significantly from unity for many different chemical vapor deposition systems, the expression derived here for thermal boundary-layer thickness may be used directly as an approximate concentration boundary-layer thickness.

Time-Resolved Thermal Boundary-Layer Structure in a Pulsatile Reversing Channel Flow

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean P. Kearney ◽  
Anthony M. Jacobi ◽  
Robert P. Lucht
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Channel Flow ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Laminar Regime ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Reversed Flow ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Primary Impact

In this paper, the results of an experimental study of the time-resolved structure of a thermal boundary layer in a pulsating channel flow are presented. The developing laminar regime is investigated. Two techniques were used for time-resolved temperature measurements: a nonintrusive, pure-rotational CARS method and cold-wire anemometry. Results are presented for differing degrees of flow reversal, and the data show that the primary impact of reversed flow is an increase in the instantaneous thermal boundary-layer thickness and a period of decreased instantaneous Nusselt number. For the developing laminar parameter space spanned by the experiments, time-averaged heat-transfer enhancements as high as a factor of two relative to steady flow are observed for nonreversing and partially reversed pulsating flows. It is concluded that reversal is not necessarily a requirement for enhancement.

A CFD Evaluation of Multiple RANS Turbulence Models for Prediction of Boundary Layer Flows on a Turbine Vane

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Dyson ◽  
David G. Bogard ◽  
Sean D. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Experimental Measurements ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
High Turbulence

There is a growing trend toward the use of conjugate CFD for use in prediction of turbine cooling performance. While many studies have evaluated the performance of RANS simulations relative to experimental measurements of the momentum boundary layer, no studies have evaluated their performance in prediction of the accompanying thermal boundary layer. This is largely due to the fact that, until recently, no appropriate experimental data existed to validate these models. This study compares several popular RANS models — including the realizable k-ε and k-ω SST models — with a four equation k-ω model (“Transition SST”) and experimental measurements at selected positions on the pressure and suction sides of a model C3X vane. Comparisons were made using mean velocity and temperature in the boundary layer without film cooling under conditions of high and low mainstream turbulence. The best performing model was evaluated using modification of the turbulent Prandtl number to attempt to better match the data for the high turbulence case. Overall, the models did not perform well for the low turbulence case; they greatly over-predicted the thermal boundary layer thickness. For the high turbulence case, their performance was better. The Transition SST model performed the best with an average thermal boundary layer thickness within 15% of the experimentally measured values. Prandtl number variation proved to be an inadequate means of improving the thermal boundary layer predictions.

scholarly journals Biases in Thorpe-Scale Estimates of Turbulence Dissipation. Part II: Energetics Arguments and Turbulence Simulations

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 2522-2543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Scotti
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Potential Energy ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Available Potential Energy ◽  
Ozmidov Scale ◽  
Thorpe Scale ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Shear Driven Flows

AbstractThis paper uses the energetics framework developed by Scotti and White to provide a critical assessment of the widely used Thorpe-scale method, which is used to estimate dissipation and mixing rates in stratified turbulent flows from density measurements along vertical profiles. This study shows that the relevant displacement scale in general is not the rms value of the Thorpe displacement. Rather, the displacement field must be Reynolds decomposed to separate the mean from the turbulent component, and it is the turbulent component that ought to be used to diagnose mixing and dissipation. In general, the energetics of mixing in an overall stably stratified flow involves potentially complex exchanges among the available potential energy and kinetic energy associated with the mean and turbulent components of the flow. The author considers two limiting cases: shear-driven mixing, where mixing comes at the expense of the mean kinetic energy of the flow, and convective-driven mixing, which taps the available potential energy of the mean flow to drive mixing. In shear-driven flows, the rms of the Thorpe displacement, known as the Thorpe scale is shown to be equivalent to the turbulent component of the displacement. In this case, the Thorpe scale approximates the Ozmidov scale, or, which is the same, the Thorpe scale is the appropriate scale to diagnose mixing and dissipation. However, when mixing is driven by the available potential energy of the mean flow (convective-driven mixing), this study shows that the Thorpe scale is (much) larger than the Ozmidov scale. Using the rms of the Thorpe displacement overestimates dissipation and mixing, since the amount of turbulent available potential energy (measured by the turbulent displacement) is only a fraction of the total available potential energy (measured by the Thorpe scale). Corrective measures are discussed that can be used to diagnose mixing from knowledge of the Thorpe displacement. In a companion paper, Mater et al. analyze field data and show that the Thorpe scale can indeed be much larger than the Ozmidov scale.

The pre-transitional Klebanoff modes and other boundary-layer disturbances induced by small-wavelength free-stream vorticity

2009 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. 267-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIERRE RICCO
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Matched Asymptotic Expansion ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
The Mean

The response of the Blasius boundary layer to free-stream vortical disturbances of the convected gust type is studied. The vorticity signature of the boundary layer is computed through the boundary-region equations, which are the rigorous asymptotic limit of the Navier–Stokes equations for low-frequency disturbances. The method of matched asymptotic expansion is employed to obtain the initial and outer boundary conditions. For the case of forcing by a two-dimensional gust, the effect of a wall-normal wavelength comparable with the boundary-layer thickness is taken into account. The gust viscous dissipation and upward displacement due to the mean boundary layer produce significant changes on the fluctuations within the viscous region. The same analysis also proves useful for computing to second-order accuracy the boundary-layer response induced by a three-dimensional gust with spanwise wavelength comparable with the boundary-layer thickness. It also follows that the boundary-layer fluctuations of the streamwise velocity match the corresponding free-stream velocity component. The velocity profiles are compared with experimental data, and good agreement is attained.The generation of Tollmien–Schlichting waves by the nonlinear mixing between the two-dimensional unsteady vorticity fluctuations and the mean flow distortion induced by localized wall roughness and suction is also investigated. Gusts with small wall-normal wavelengths generate significantly different amplitudes of the instability waves for a selected range of forcing frequencies. This is primarily due to the disparity between the streamwise velocity fluctuations in the free stream and within the boundary layer.

Significance of Prandtl Number on the Heat Transport and Flow Structure in Rotating Rayleigh–Bénard Convection

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishnu Venugopal T ◽  
Arnab Kumar De ◽  
Pankaj Kumar Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flow Structure ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer ◽  
Thermal Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Rotation Rates ◽  
Conduction State ◽  
Rayleigh Benard Convection ◽  
Rayleigh Benard

Abstract A direct numerical simulation of rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC) for different fluids (Pr=0.015,0.7,1,7,20, and 100) in a cylindrical cell of aspect ratio Γ=0.5 is carried out in this work. The effect of rotation on the heat transfer rate, flow structures, their associated dynamics, and influence on the boundary layers are investigated. The Rayleigh number is fixed to Ra=106 and the rotation rates are varied for a wide range, starting from no rotation (Ro→∞) to high rotation rates (Ro≈0.01). For all the Prandtl numbers (Pr=0.015–100), a reduction in heat transfer with increase in rotation is observed. However, for Pr=7 and 20, a marginal increase of the Nusselt number for low rotation rates is obtained, which is attributed to the change in the flow structure from quadrupolar to dipolar state. The change in flow structure is associated with the statistical behavior of the boundary layers. As the flow makes a transition from quadrupolar to dipolar state, a reduction in the thermal boundary layer thickness is observed. At higher rotation rates, the thermal boundary layer thickness shows a power law variation with the rotation rate. The power law exponent is close to unity for moderate Pr, while it reduces for both lower and higher Pr. At extremely high rotation rates, the flow makes a transition to the conduction state. The critical rotation rate (1/Roc) for which transition to the conduction state is observed depends on the Prandtl number according to 1/Roc∝Pr0.5.

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