Measurements of turbulent velocity and temperature fields for high Rayleigh number natural convection in an enclosure

Abstract

ABSTRACT An experimental study of the turbulent velocity and temperature fields for high Rayleigh number natural convecton in an enclosure was conducted. A water filled test cell with one heated vertical wall and one opposite cooled vertical wall was used. All the other walls were thermally insulated. The cell had an aspect ratio of 1. Velocity measurements were taken at Rayleigh number of 3.0×10 10 based on the height of the vertical walls. In addition to the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regions reported in the literature, a region near the corner with two recirculating flow structure was identified. Mean and fluctuating velocities were measured with laser-Doppler anemometer system. Mean and fluctuating temperatures were measured with fine-wire thermocouples. The concurrent measurement measurements of velocity and temperature provided the much needed experimental data for a better understanding of the underlying physics of turbulent natural convection in an enclosure.