Differential Heating Research Articles

Irreversibilities and heat transfer in magnetohydrodynamic microchannel flow under differential heating

This study investigates heat transfer and entropy generation in a microchannel subjected to differential heating, viscous dissipation, and Joule heating within a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid flow. A finite difference method with a fully implicit scheme is employed to accurately model temperature distribution and entropy generation. A comparison between the average Nusselt numbers (Nu) calculated using the classical method and the Bennett Formula reveals a notable discrepancy, particularly at the entry length (up to 14%). It has been found that when one plate is heated while the other is cooled and the Hartmann number (Ha) is low, the average Nu for both plates converges to 2. However, at high Ha values considering viscous dissipation and Joule heating, there is an 8% deviation between the Nu values of the two plates, with the higher Nu found on the cooling plate. Sensitivity analyses explore the impact of control parameters on entropy generation, emphasizing the significance of η as a key parameter that reflects the system's resistance to entropy generation. Increasing η from 0.1 to 0.5 results in a 32% reduction in entropy generation. In particular, for microchannels, substantial η high values imply reduced entropy generation, highlighting their efficiency in heat transfer.

Unraveling the Thermodynamic Enigma between Fast and Slow Coronal Mass Ejections

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most energetic expulsions of magnetized plasma from the Sun that play a crucial role in space weather dynamics. This study investigates the diverse kinematics and thermodynamic evolution of two CMEs (CME1: 2011 September 24 and CME2: 2018 August 20) at coronal heights where thermodynamic measurements are limited. The peak 3D propagation speed of CME1 is high (1885 km s−1) with two-phase expansion (rapid and nearly constant), while the peak 3D propagation speed of CME2 is slow (420 km s−1) with only a gradual expansion. We estimate the distance-dependent variations in the polytropic index, heating rate, temperature, and internal forces implementing the revised FRIS model, taking inputs of 3D kinematics estimated from the graduated cylindrical shell model. We find CME1 exhibiting heat release during its early-rapid acceleration decrease and jumps to the heat-absorption state during its constant acceleration phase. In contrast to CME1, CME2 shows a gradual transition from the near-adiabatic to the heat-absorption state during its gradually increasing acceleration. Our analysis reveals that although both CMEs show differential heating, they experience heat absorption during their later propagation phases, approaching the isothermal state. The faster CME1 achieves an adiabatic state followed by an isothermal state at smaller distances from the Sun than the slower CME2. We also find that the expansion of CMEs is primarily influenced by centrifugal and thermal pressure forces, with the Lorentz force impeding expansion. Multiwavelength observations of flux-ropes at source regions support the FRIS-model-derived findings at initially observed lower coronal heights.

Simulating Radiative Heat Transfer in Multi‐Scattering Irregular Surfaces: Application to Snow and Ice Morphologies on Europa

AbstractWe developed a Monte‐Carlo‐based radiative heat transfer model capable of simulating solar exposure and subsequent warming of rough snow and ice surfaces on ice‐covered airless solar system bodies. The model accounts for wavelength‐dependent internal light scattering and heat conduction in the snow interior down to meter‐scale depths. We validated the model against analytical and experimental test cases with relevant applications to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. We examined differential heating across the surface, from the centimeter to meter scale, to reveal potential patterns of preferential sublimation that could lead to rough ice morphologies, such as penitentes. An exploration of parameters such as penitente height‐width ratios, shape, size, snow grain size, and thermal properties revealed that taller, thinner, larger penitentes with sharper peaks, coarser snow grain sizes, and lower thermal inertias are more likely to grow in Europa's environment near the equator.

Numerical and experimental investigation of pressure-controlled joule-heat forge welding of steel tubes

Joining metallic tubes without melting is an enroute to impermeable and high-strength joints for lightweight and transport applications. Friction-based joining processes avoid melting and solidification defects, although the generated metallurgical bonding remains critical due to the uncontrolled differential interface heating and plastic deformation. Pressure-controlled joule-heat forge welding obtains a joint in a solid state with uniform plastic deformation of faying interfaces. A short-duration high-current pulse is discharged across the metallic tube assembly under the electrically conducting copper-steel plates. A high-pressure contact and thermal softening allow a radially outward metal plastic flow with the expulsion of oxide films. The joint evolution is further controlled with the pushing rate to a set distance. This study marks the novel effort to examine the thin-walled steel tubes joining with an integrated experimental and numerical approach. The computational analysis based on the finite element approach reveals the time instants of the interfacial contact pressure, thermal softening, and plastic flow behavior for the joint formation. The welded and upset-out region indicates uniform recrystallization of radially aligned grains with a consistent microhardness distribution. The actual welded geometry dimensions matched fairly well with the calculated dimensions.

Seasonally varying outgassing as an explanation for dark comet accelerations

Significant nonradial, nongravitational accelerations with magnitudes incompatible with radiation-driven effects have been reported in seven photometrically inactive near-Earth objects. Two of these objects exhibit large transverse accelerations (i.e., within the orbital plane but orthogonal to the radial direction), and six exhibit significant out-of-plane accelerations. Here, we find that anisotropic outgassing resulting from differential heating on a nucleus with nonzero spin-pole obliquity, averaged over an eccentric orbit, can explain these accelerations for most of the objects. This balanced outgassing model depends on three parameters — the spin pole orientation (R.A. and Dec.) and an acceleration magnitude. For these “dark comets” (excepting 2003 RM), we obtain parameter values that reproduce the observed nongravitational accelerations. We derive formulae for the component accelerations under certain assumptions for the acceleration scaling over heliocentric distance. Although we lack estimates of these objects’ spin axes to confirm our values, this mechanism is nevertheless a plausible explanation for the observed accelerations, and produces accurate perturbations to the heliocentric motions of most of these objects. This model may also be applied to active objects outside of the dark comets group.

High‐Resolution Large‐Eddy Simulations of Flow in the Complex Terrain of the Canadian Rockies

AbstractImproving the calculation of land‐atmosphere fluxes of heat and water vapor in mountain terrain requires better resolution of thermally driven diurnal winds (i.e., valley, slope winds) due to differential heating by terrain and radiative fluxes. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model is used to simulate flow in large‐eddy simulation (LES) mode over the complex terrain of the Fortress Mountain and Marmot Creek research basins, Kananaskis Valley, Canadian Rockies, Alberta in mid‐summer. The model was used to examine the temporal and spatial evolution of local winds and near‐surface boundary layer processes with variability in topography and elevation. Numerically resolving complex terrain wind flow effects require smaller grid cell size. However, the use of terrain‐following coordinates in most numerical weather prediction models results in large numerical errors when flow over steep terrain is simulated. These errors propagate through the domain and can result in numerical instability. To avoid this issue when simulating flow over steep terrain a local smoothing approach was used, where smoothing is applied only where slope exceeds some predetermined threshold. LES results from local smoothing were compared with a mesoscale model and LES with global smoothing. Simulations are evaluated using sounding data and meteorological stations. The differences in flow patterns and reversals in two mountain basins suggest that valley geometry and volume is relevant to the break up of inversion layers, removal of cold‐air pools, and strength of thermally driven winds.

Estimates of Proton and Electron Heating Rates Extended to the Near-Sun Environment

A central problem of space plasma physics is how protons and electrons are heated in a turbulent, magnetized plasma. The differential heating of charged species due to dissipation of turbulent fluctuations plays a key role in solar wind evolution. Measurements from previous heliophysics missions have provided estimates of proton and electron heating rates beyond 0.27 au. Using Parker Solar Probe (PSP) data accumulated during the first 10 encounters, we extend the evaluation of the individual rates of heat deposition for protons and electrons to a distance of 0.063 au (13.5 R ⊙) in the newly formed solar wind. The PSP data in the near-Sun environment show different behavior of the electron heat conduction flux from what was predicted from previous fits to Helios and Ulysses data. Consequently, the empirically derived proton and electron heating rates exhibit significantly different behavior than previous reports, with the proton heating becoming increasingly dominant over electron heating at decreasing heliocentric distances. We find that the protons receive about 80% of the total plasma heating at ≈13 R ⊙, slightly higher than the near-Earth values. This empirically derived heating partition between protons and electrons will help to constrain theoretical models of solar wind heating.

Anomalously Darker Land Surfaces Become Wetter Due To Mesoscale Circulations

Abstract“Land radiative management” (LRM)—intentionally increasing land surface albedo to reduce regional temperatures—has been proposed as a form of geoengineering. Its effects on local precipitation and soil moisture over long timescales are not well understood. We use idealized cloud‐permitting simulations and a conceptual model to understand the response of precipitation and soil moisture to a mesoscale albedo anomaly at equilibrium. Initially, differential heating between a high‐albedo anomaly and the lower‐albedo surrounding environment drives mesoscale circulations, increasing precipitation and soil moisture in the surrounding environment. However, over time, increasing soil moisture reduces the differential heating, eliminating the mesoscale circulations. At equilibrium, the fractional increase in simulated soil moisture is up to 1.3 times the fractional increase in co‐albedo (one minus albedo). Thus, LRM may increase precipitation and soil moisture in surrounding regions, enhancing evaporative cooling and spreading the benefits of LRM over a wider region than previously recognized.

Stratified horizontal convection

Surface differential heating on a stably stratified fluid body drives an overturning circulation confined to the upper fluid region – here coined stratified horizontal convection (SHC). In this manuscript, we investigate the dynamics of SHC via laboratory experiments, exploring local and global flow properties. By considering the available potential energy of the system, we derive a unique length scale of SHC and introduce the Péclet number $Pe$ that captures both the stabilising effect of stratification and the destabilising effect of the baroclinic adjustment. We found that $Pe$ characterises local and global flow properties, including the fluid transport of the overturning circulation, the available mechanical energy and the flow dimensionality. Our study provides insights into the fluid dynamics of stratified environments that experience horizontal convection, such as lakes, oceans and atmospheres.

Thermally Direct Mesoscale Circulations Caused by Land Surface Roughness Anomalies

AbstractDeforestation, urbanization and construction of wind farms can change the land surface roughness, which can further influence surface heat fluxes and thus weather and climate. Land surface roughness anomalies can dynamically trigger convergence through changing mean wind speed. Here, we report a new mechanism, in which roughness anomalies cause thermally direct mesoscale circulations and anomalous precipitation. To study this mechanism, we conduct cloud‐permitting simulations over an idealized land surface with prescribed surface roughness anomalies. Anomalously high roughness increases turbulent mixing near the surface, which decreases land surface temperature and outgoing longwave radiation. The additional surface net radiation partly goes into greater sensible heat flux, which triggers mesoscale circulations driven by differential heating. As a result, precipitation over the high‐roughness anomaly is generally larger than that over the low‐roughness background. This new mechanism, not present in climate models, may be relevant to storm formation over wind farms, cities and forests.

Comparison of Recently Proposed Causes of Climate Change

This paper compares the ideas contained in the main papers published on climate change since World War II to arrive at a suggested consensus of our present knowledge regarding climatic changes and their causes. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is only suggested as a cause in one theory, which, despite its wide acceptance by Politicians, the media, and the Public, ignores the findings in other studies, including the ideas found in the Milankovitch Cycles. It also does not explain the well-known NASA map of the changes between the global 1951–1978 and the 2010–2019 mean annual temperatures. The other theories by Oceanographers, Earth scientists, and Geographers fit together to indicate that the variations in climate are the result of differential solar heating of the Earth, resulting in a series of processes redistributing the heat to produce a more uniform range of climates around the surface of the Earth. Key factors are the shape of the Earth and the Milankovitch Cycles, the distribution of land and water bodies, the differences between heating land and water, ocean currents and gateways, air masses, and hurricanes. Low atmospheric carbon dioxide levels during cold events could result in too little of this gas to support photosynthesis in plants, resulting in the extermination of most life on Earth as we know it. The 23 ka Milankovitch cycle has begun to reduce the winter insolation received at the surface of the atmosphere in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere starting in 2020. This results in extreme weather as the winter insolation reaching the surface of the atmosphere in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere decreases while the summer air temperatures increase. It heralds the start of the next glaciation. A brief outline is given of some of the climatic changes and consequences that may be expected in western Canada during the next 11.5 ka.

Marine Proxies Of Paleomonsoon: Emphasis On Indian Monsoon System

Marine proxies are the most prominent tools in the history of the monsoon. Palaeomonsoon is the seasonalmovement of wind belts and differential heating of land and water caused by the interaction between theocean and atmosphere. The Indian monsoon is distinct from other monsoon systems in terms of its focalpoints, associated air masses, and mechanism for precipitation. It has two distinct phases: the southwestmonsoon (June to September), which brings the majority of the precipitation to India and the northeastmonsoon (November to February). The tropical monsoon has been proposed as a major modulator of thenorthern hemisphere climate and a major player at the end of the last ice age. Monsoon rainfall is recorded insediments deposited on the ocean floor from the Arabian Sea region. Humidity and temperature are measuredthrough physical and chemical parameters, and isotopic compositions are used to understand temperature,atmospheric composition, and ocean salinity. Microfossil assemblages and abundances of species are alsoimportant indicators of how physical and chemical factors affect biota.

Thermal transport in warm dense matter revealed by refraction-enhanced x-ray radiography with a deep-neural-network analysis

Transport properties of high energy density matter affect the evolution of many systems, ranging from the geodynamo in the Earth’s core, to hydrodynamic instability growth in inertial confinement fusion capsules. Large uncertainties of these properties are present in the warm dense matter regime where both plasma models and condensed matter models become invalid. To overcome this limit, we devise an experimental platform based on x-ray differential heating and time-resolved refraction-enhanced radiography coupled to a deep neural network. We retrieve the first measurement of thermal conductivity of CH and Be in the warm dense matter regime and compare our measurement with the most commonly adopted models. The discrepancies observed are related to the estimation of a correction term from electron-electron collisions. The results necessitate improvement of transport models in the warm dense matter regime and could impact the understanding of the implosion performance for inertial confinement fusion.

Effect of Homogenization Process on Microstructure of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu Aluminum Alloys

Herein, the best homogenization process of 466.5 °C × 36 h + 490 °C × (14–26.4 h) that can completely eliminate the coarse phases σ[Mg(Zn, Al, Cu)2] and S(Al2CuMg) in the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu aluminum alloy is developed. The homogenization process is determined by the method of calculation phase diagram, and the experimental verification. It is shown in the results that, first, in the microstructure of the as‐cast alloys, the crystal structure of the σ[Mg(Zn, Al, Cu)2], Al7Cu2Fe, and Mg2Si phases is determined. Second, during the homogenization process, the σ[Mg(Zn, Al, Cu)2] phase dissolves and also transforms into the S(Al2CuMg) phase. Most importantly, the dissolution temperature range of the σ[Mg(Zn, Al, Cu)2], S(Al2CuMg), and Al7Cu2Fe phases is determined from 472.56 to 476.36 °C, from 484.09 to 485.39 °C, and from 540.18 to 547.23 °C, respectively. At best homogenization process, the residual Al7Cu2Fe phase area fraction ranges from 1.28 ± 0.16% to 1.60 ± 0.18%. In addition, dispersed η(MgZn2) phase precipitates in supersaturated Al‐matrix during differential scanning calorimeter heating. And, the concentration differences between the grain center and the eutectic of structure of Zn, Mg and Cu regression equations are established, which can provide some reference for the design of experimental parameters, thus reducing the experimental workload.

How does the phytoplankton–light feedback affect the marine N2O inventory?

Abstract. The phytoplankton–light feedback (PLF) describes the interaction between phytoplankton biomass and the downwelling shortwave radiation entering the ocean. The PLF allows the simulation of differential heating across the ocean water column as a function of phytoplankton concentration. Only one third of the Earth system models contributing to the 6th phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) include a complete representation of the PLF. In other models, the PLF is either approximated by a prescribed climatology of chlorophyll or not represented at all. Consequences of an incomplete representation of the PLF on the modelled biogeochemical state have not yet been fully assessed and remain a source of multi-model uncertainty in future projection. Here, we evaluate within a coherent modelling framework how representations of the PLF of varying complexity impact ocean physics and ultimately marine production of nitrous oxide (N2O), a major greenhouse gas. We exploit global sensitivity simulations at 1∘ horizontal resolution over the last 2 decades (1999–2018), coupling ocean, sea ice and marine biogeochemistry. The representation of the PLF impacts ocean heat uptake and temperature of the first 300 m of the tropical ocean. Temperature anomalies due to an incomplete PLF representation drive perturbations of ocean stratification, dynamics and oxygen concentration. These perturbations translate into different projection pathways for N2O production depending on the choice of the PLF representation. The oxygen concentration in the North Pacific oxygen-minimum zone is overestimated in model runs with an incomplete representation of the PLF, which results in an underestimation of local N2O production. This leads to important regional differences of sea-to-air N2O fluxes: fluxes are enhanced by up to 24 % in the South Pacific and South Atlantic subtropical gyres but reduced by up to 12 % in oxygen-minimum zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Our results, based on a global ocean–biogeochemical model at CMIP6 state-of-the-art level, shed light on current uncertainties in modelled marine nitrous oxide budgets in climate models.

Numerical-experimental study of mixed convection in a wind tower-room system

Passive strategies are employed in buildings to minimize their total energy consumption and emissions of CO2. The wind tower (windcatcher) is a traditional natural ventilation device capable of reducing building energy consumption and improving the indoor environment. In this work, the performance of the mixed convection in a wind tower-room system is studied, considering natural convection by differential heating in the room and forced convection by the wind entering the tower. A parametric analysis has been carried out considering different values of velocities, temperatures, and relative humidity of the air. Different room wall temperatures were also considered. Ri number studied in this work was in the range of 6.6 × 10−2 and 1.5 × 102. An experimental study was also carried out to validate the numerical results. Comparison numerical-experimental results indicate a mean bias error of 0.49 °C for temperature and a percentage deviation of 24.4% for air velocity. The results showed that the wind tower achieves sensation-neutral comfort inside the room when outside temperatures are between 25 and 30 °C. Regarding Ri numbers lower than 1, the air exchange effectiveness is partially constant, while it can vary by 31% for Ri values greater than 1. The results also indicated that for Ri numbers lower than 1, the heat transfer is 71% greater than for Ri values greater than 1. The findings provided in this paper could contribute to a better understanding of the performance of mixed convection in rooms of buildings with a wind tower.

Mortality of Lasioderma serricorne1 in a Continuously Heated Environment

Heat treatment is a potential alternative to chemicals for controlling stored-product insect pests. During heat treatment, attaining uniform temperature across a facility is not possible because of differential heating rates. Effects of different heating rates of 0 (check), 0.5, 5, and 10°C per hour on life stages of Lasioderma serricorne were studied in a laboratory. Different heating rates killed significantly different numbers of L. serricorne life stages, with more killed with increasing exposure at 50°C. Compared to the check, significantly more L. serricorne larvae exposed to continuous heating of 28 to 50°C at 5 and 10°C per hour were killed after exposure at 50°C for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. However, L. serricorne larvae and eggs exposed to continuous heating of 28 to 50°C at 0.5more at different heating ra per hour significantly increased after exposure at 50°C for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Maintaining temperature at ≥50°C for >90 minutes in a facility killed almost all life stages of L. serricorne. Pupae were least susceptible to heat.

Impact of land surface processes on convection over West Africa in convection‐permitting ensemble forecasts: A case study using the MOGREPS ensemble

AbstractSoil moisture (SM) affects weather through its impact on surface flux partitioning, influencing vertical atmospheric profiles and circulations driven by differential surface heating. In West Africa, observational studies point to a dominant negative SM‐precipitation feedback, where dry soils help to initiate and maintain convection. In this context, serious concerns exist about the ability of models with parameterised convection to simulate this observed sensitivity of daytime convection to SM. Here, we evaluate the effect of initial SM perturbations in a short‐range ensemble forecast over West Africa, comparing the UK Met Office Global and Regional Ensemble Prediction System (MOGREPS) with parameterised convection (GLOB‐ENS) to its regional convection‐permitting counterpart (CP‐ENS). Results from both models suggest SM perturbations introduce considerable spread into daytime evaporative fraction (EF) and near‐surface temperatures. This spread is still evident on Day 3 of the forecast. Both models also show a tendency to increased afternoon rainfall frequency over negative EF anomalies, reproducing the observed feedback. However, this effect is more pronounced in CP‐ENS than GLOB‐ENS, which illustrates the potential for process‐based forecast improvements at convection‐permitting scales. Finally, we identify persistent biases in rainfall caused by land cover mapping issues in the operational GLOB‐ENS setup, emphasising the need for careful evaluation of different mapping strategies for land cover.

Optimization of Thick 22MnB5 Sheet Steel Part Performance through Laser Tempering

Press Hardening offers the possibility to obtain a wide range of mechanical properties through microstructural tailoring. This strategy has been successfully applied in thin sheet components, for instance, through differential cooling strategies. The application of these added value features to truck components implies adapting the process to the manufacture of thick sheet metal. This introduces an additional layer of complexity, but also opportunity, in a process where the final microstructure and, thus the mechanical performance is generated in the press shop. This work presents a study on optimizing the crash worthiness and impact energy absorption on a press hardened thick 22MnB5 steel sheet. Different microstructure design strategies have been studied, including ferrite-Pearlite (representative of a differential heating and austenitization strategy), in-die generated Bainite (representative of differential cooling) and Tempered Martensite (generated through laser tempering), keeping a fully hardened martensite as a reference condition. The material performance has been compared in terms of the monotonic properties, useful for anti-intrusion performance, and Essential Work of Fracture, a well-suited parameter to predict the crash failure behavior of high strength steels. The results show that laser tempering offers properties similar to Bainite-based microstructures and can be a successful replacement in components where the sheet thickness does not allow for the fine control of the in-die thermomechanical evolution.

Structural evolution of CL-20/DNB cocrystals at high temperature: Phase transition and kinetics of thermal decomposition

As a typical new energetic material, CL-20/DNB cocrystals have been recognized as a promising explosive owing to their excellent comprehensive performance. The thermal decomposition behavior, structural evolution and dynamic process of CL-20/DNB cocrystals under high temperature were studied by means of thermogravimetric differential heating, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy to gain insight into the cocrystal materials. The study found that the decomposition of CL-20/DNB cocrystal is a heterogeneous process accompanied by the sublimation of DNB and structural change of CL-20. The phase transition of β → γ-CL-20 was observed at 120 °C. The kinetics of decomposition and the mechanism of micro structural evolution on CL-20/DNB cocrystals with heating were revealed. The primary NO⋯H hydrogen bonds of the cocrystal are broken, accompanied by the melting of DNB in the temperature range of 100–120 °C. Subsequently, the DNB single component decomposes completely, leading to lattice collapse of cocrystal; simultaneously, CL-20 undergoes a transition process from β phase to γ phase. Ultimately, γ-CL-20 gradually decomposes with increasing temperature. The activation energy of cocrystal is also obtained as 129 ± 10 kJ/mol. The understanding of cocrystal explosive was deepened and the further application was promoted.