No Arabic abstract
Penetrative turbulence, which occurs in a convectively unstable fluid layer and penetrates into an adjacent, originally stably stratified layer, is numerically and theoretically analyzed. We chose the most relevant example, namely thermally driven flow of water with a temperature around $T_mapprox 4^circrm{C}$, where it has its density maximum. We pick the Rayleigh-Benard geometry with the bottom plate temperature $T_b > 4^circrm{C}$ and the top plate temperature $T_t le 4^circrm{C}$. Next to the overall thermal driving strength set by the temperature difference $Delta = T_b - T_t$ (the Rayleigh number $Ra$ in dimensionless form), the crucial new control parameter as compared to standard Rayleigh-Benard convection is the density inversion parameter $theta_m equiv (T_m - T_t ) / Delta$. The crucial response parameters are the relative mean mid-height temperature $theta_c$ and the overall heat transfer (i.e., the Nusselt number $Nu$). We theoretically derive the universal (i.e., $Ra$-independent) dependence $theta_c (theta_m) =(1+theta_m^2)/2$, which holds for $theta_m$ below a $Ra$-dependent critical value, beyond which $theta_c (theta_m)$ sharply decreases and drops down to $theta_c=1/2$ at $theta_m=theta_{m,c}$. Our direct numerical simulations with $Ra$ up to $10^{10}$ are consistent with these results. The critical density inversion parameter $theta_{m,c}$ can be precisely predicted by a linear stability analysis. The heat flux $Nu(theta_m)$ monotonically decreases with increasing $theta_m$ and we can theoretically derive a universal relation for the relative heat flux $Nu(theta_m)/Nu(0)$. Finally, we numerically identify and discuss rare transitions between different turbulent flow states for large $theta_m$.
The effect of rotation on the boundary layers (BLs) in a Rayleigh-Benard (RB) system at a relatively low Rayleigh number, i.e. $Ra = 4times10^7$, is studied for different Pr by direct numerical simulations and the results are compared with laminar BL theory. In this regime we find a smooth onset of the heat transfer enhancement as function of increasing rotation rate. We study this regime in detail and introduce a model based on the Grossmann-Lohse theory to describe the heat transfer enhancement as function of the rotation rate for this relatively low Ra number regime and weak background rotation $Rogtrsim 1$. The smooth onset of heat transfer enhancement observed here is in contrast to the sharp onset observed at larger $Ra gtrsim 10^8$ by Stevens {it{et al.}} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {bf{103}}, 024503, 2009], although only a small shift in the Ra-Ro-Pr phase space is involved.
For rapidly rotating turbulent Rayleigh--Benard convection in a slender cylindrical cell, experiments and direct numerical simulations reveal a boundary zonal flow (BZF) that replaces the classical large-scale circulation. The BZF is located near the vertical side wall and enables enhanced heat transport there. Although the azimuthal velocity of the BZF is cyclonic (in the rotating frame), the temperature is an anticyclonic traveling wave of mode one whose signature is a bimodal temperature distribution near the radial boundary. The BZF width is found to scale like $Ra^{1/4}Ek^{2/3}$ where the Ekman number $Ek$ decreases with increasing rotation rate.
Non-Oberbeck-Boussinesq (NOB) effects on the flow organization in two-dimensional Rayleigh-Benard turbulence are numerically analyzed. The working fluid is water. We focus on the temperature profiles, the center temperature, the Nusselt number, and on the analysis of the velocity field. Several velocity amplitudes (or Reynolds numbers) and several kinetic profiles are introduced and studied; these together describe the various features of the rather complex flow organization. The results are presented both as functions of the Rayleigh number Ra (with Ra up to 10^8) for fixed temperature difference (Delta) between top and bottom plates and as functions of Delta (non-Oberbeck-Boussinesqness) for fixed Ra with Delta up to 60 K. All results are consistent with the available experimental NOB data for the center temperature Tc and the Nusselt number ratio Nu_{NOB}/Nu_{OB} (the label OB meaning that the Oberbeck-Boussinesq conditions are valid). Beyond Ra ~ 10^6 the flow consists of a large diagonal center convection roll and two smaller rolls in the upper and lower corners. In the NOB case the center convection roll is still characterized by only one velocity scale.
We numerically investigate turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection within two immiscible fluid layers, aiming to understand how the layer thickness and fluid properties affect the heat transfer (characterized by the Nusselt number $Nu$) in two-layer systems. Both two- and three-dimensional simulations are performed at fixed global Rayleigh number $Ra=10^8$, Prandtl number $Pr=4.38$, and Weber number $We=5$. We vary the relative thickness of the upper layer between $0.01 le alpha le 0.99$ and the thermal conductivity coefficient ratio of the two liquids between $0.1 le lambda_k le 10$. Two flow regimes are observed: In the first regime at $0.04lealphale0.96$, convective flows appear in both layers and $Nu$ is not sensitive to $alpha$. In the second regime at $alphale0.02$ or $alphage0.98$, convective flow only exists in the thicker layer, while the thinner one is dominated by pure conduction. In this regime, $Nu$ is sensitive to $alpha$. To predict $Nu$ in the system in which the two layers are separated by a unique interface, we apply the Grossmann-Lohse theory for both individual layers and impose heat flux conservation at the interface. Without introducing any free parameter, the predictions for $Nu$ and for the temperature at the interface well agree with our numerical results and previous experimental data.
When the classical Rayleigh-Benard (RB) system is rotated about its vertical axis roughly three regimes can be identified. In regime I (weak rotation) the large scale circulation (LSC) is the dominant feature of the flow. In regime II (moderate rotation) the LSC is replaced by vertically aligned vortices. Regime III (strong rotation) is characterized by suppression of the vertical velocity fluctuations. Using results from experiments and direct numerical simulations of RB convection for a cell with a diameter-to-height aspect ratio equal to one at $Ra sim 10^8-10^9$ ($Pr=4-6$) and $0 lesssim 1/Ro lesssim 25$ we identified the characteristics of the azimuthal temperature profiles at the sidewall in the different regimes. In regime I the azimuthal wall temperature profile shows a cosine shape and a vertical temperature gradient due to plumes that travel with the LSC close to the sidewall. In regime II and III this cosine profile disappears, but the vertical wall temperature gradient is still observed. It turns out that the vertical wall temperature gradient in regimes II and III has a different origin than that observed in regime I. It is caused by boundary layer dynamics characteristic for rotating flows, which drives a secondary flow that transports hot fluid up the sidewall in the lower part of the container and cold fluid downwards along the sidewall in the top part.