Domain partition leads to a manifold increase of heat transport in Rayleigh–Bénard convection at low Prandtl number

Abstract

Results of an exploratory numerical study of Rayleigh–Bénard convection of a low-Pr fluid in a cylinder with a vertical partition are reported. It is shown that a partition may lead to a many-fold increase in the rate of convection heat transfer. The effect is associated with the formation of coherent hot and cold streams separated by the partition. The heat transfer enhancement is particularly strong in tall cylinders and requires that the partition penetrates into the thermal boundary layers near the top and bottom walls.