Thermal Plume Research Articles

The impact of Pangean subducted oceans on mantle dynamics: Passive piles and the positioning of deep mantle plumes

Seismic imaging of the Earth’s interior reveals plumes originating from relatively hot regions of the lowermost mantle, surrounded by cooler material thought to be remnants of ancient subducted oceans. Currently, there is no clear consensus on the internal composition of the hot regions, with end-member conditions being that they are thermo-chemical in nature or purely thermal plume clusters. Previous modelling studies have shown a range of scenarios where deep chemical heterogenities or purely thermal anomalies are essential in developing appropriate present-day mantle dynamics. Here, we add to this discus- sion by quantifying the location of rising mantle plumes using numerical 3-D global mantle convection models constrained by 410 million years of palaeo-ocean evolution (encompassing the formation and breakup of supercontinent Pangea). Our study compares numerical simulations with purely thermal convection to those where a deep thermo-chemical anomaly is laterally mobile. The results show that models both with and without large-scale chemical heterogeneities can generate appropriate present-day plume dynamics, which illustrate the power of sinking ocean plates to stir mantle ow and control the thermal evolution of the mantle. Our models add to the discussion on bottom-up and top-down mantle dynamics, indicating the difficulty in unravelling the processes using numerical models alone.

Optimization for the temperature range of radiator for preventing draught risk of cold window

High surface temperature of radiator can provide thermal plume with enough momentum intensity and thus counteracts the downdraft caused by window. Meanwhile, it is necessary to avoid causing indoor temperature to exceed upper limit of thermal comfort zone. In this paper, influence of heat transfer coefficients of window and exterior wall, outdoor temperature, and average surface temperature of radiator on operative temperature (Top) and temperature difference between indoor air and window (Td) was investigated. Based on response surface method, single factor and interaction effects for the four influencing factors on Top and Td were analyzed. A framework optimizing average surface temperature of radiator for preventing draught risk of window was established. When the heat transfer coefficient of window was around 1.4 W/m2·°C and satisfied related energy-conservation standard, cold draught could be eliminated without causing indoor environment overheating. Based on the optimized temperature range, the supply water temperature was controlled, and seasonal performance using the variable temperature strategy was investigated based on TRNSYS simulation. With the variable water temperature control strategy, the output hourly indoor air temperature was within the comfortable range. In the whole heating season, hours that did not meet cold draught requirement occupied 77.22 %, as the heat transfer coefficients of window dis-satisfied the energy-saving design standard. As meeting the design standard, the proportion decreased to 12.97 %. Utilizing the optimized temperature interval can prevent discomfort caused by cold draught to the greatest extent. This study is conducive to improving thermal environment with the convective–heating system and may lead to the reduction of energy consumption for heating.

Schlieren Image Velocimetry and colorimetry for a burning candle and its thermal plume

Schlieren Image Velocimetry and colorimetry for a burning candle and its thermal plume

Thermal boundary layer dynamics in low-Prandtl-number Rayleigh–Bénard convection

In this experimental study, we explore the dynamics of the thermal boundary layer in liquid metal Rayleigh–Bénard convection, covering the parameter ranges of $0.026 \leq$ Prandtl numbers $(Pr) \leq 0.033$ and Rayleigh numbers ( $Ra$ ) up to $2.9\times 10^9$ . Our research focuses on characterising the thermal boundary layer near the top plate of a cylindrical convection cell with an aspect ratio of 0.5, distinguishing between two distinct regions: the shear-dominated region around the centre of the top plate and a location near the side wall where the boundary layer is expected to be affected by the impact or ejection of thermal plumes. The dependencies of the boundary layer thickness on $Ra$ at these positions reveal deviating scaling exponents with the difference diminishing as $Ra$ increases. We find stronger fluctuations in the boundary layer and increasing deviation from the Prandtl–Blasius–Pohlhausen profile with increasing $Ra$ , as well as in the measurements outside the centre region. Our data illustrate the complex interplay between flow dynamics and thermal transport in low- $Pr$ convection.

Tidal pumping and intertidal groundwater springs create pronounced spatiotemporal thermal variability in a coastal lagoon

AbstractIntertidal groundwater springs provide thermally stable, nutrient‐rich freshwater that causes fine‐scale variability in water temperature and salinity and promotes biodiversity in coastal estuaries and lagoons. In this study, we combined three thermal sensing techniques to elucidate summer water temperature patterns at the mouths of intertidal groundwater springs and the ambient coastal lagoon in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Thermal infrared imagery captured the spatiotemporal variability in relative temperatures of the lagoon channel and cold‐water plumes from the springs. Thermal anomalies due to the springs were detected at the surface throughout a tidal cycle, suggesting that the thermal plumes were buoyant. Fiber‐optic distributed temperature sensing paired with temperature loggers near the spring outlets recorded groundwater temperatures at low tide (~ 7°C) but ambient lagoon temperatures (up to 26°C) at high tide due to the vertical thermal gradient in the stratified water column. Calculated estuarine Richardson numbers throughout the study confirm intertidal spring buoyancy due to salinity differences. The fiber‐optic distributed temperature sensing results revealed pronounced variations in temperature as evidenced by spatial (3.7°C) and temporal (5.5°C) standard deviations over the cable length during the study and lower mean lagoon bed water temperatures at high tide (22.5°C) than low tide (24.3°C) due to heat advection from tidal pumping. Lagoon temperatures fluctuate at diurnal (solar) and semi‐diurnal (tidal) frequencies. The findings emphasize the efficacy of a multi‐technology approach to reveal fine‐scale and dynamic thermal processes that drive temperature patterns and habitat distribution in coastal lagoon ecosystems and highlight the thermal influence of intertidal springs.

Numerical analysis of free convection under the influence of radiation and inclined MHD in a triangular cavity filled with hybrid nanofluid and a porous fin

This study presents a novel investigation into the thermal behavior of a hybrid nanofluid (MgO − Ag − H2O) in natural convection around a porous fin in a triangular enclosure under the influence of radiation and magnetohydrodynamic effects. The research uniquely combines these complex phenomena, addressing a significant gap in the literature. This configuration has potential applications in advanced solar thermal collectors, electronic cooling systems for high-power devices, and compact heat exchangers in various industries. The main objectives are to understand how various parameters influence heat transfer and fluid flow behavior and to optimize the design for enhanced thermal performance. The study considers a range of variables including Rayleigh number (103 − − 106), Hartmann number (0 – 50), Aspect ratio (0.3 – 0.6), radiation parameters (Rd = 1 − − 5, λ = 1 − 5), and volume concentration (0- 0.05), which have been numerically analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). The findings reveal that increasing the Darcy number (Da) enhances heat transfer at low Rayleigh numbers (Ra = 103,104). However, at higher Ra (Ra = 106), the impact of Da becomes more complex, with a critical Da beyond which heat transfer efficiency decreases due to an increase in flow resistance. The nanoparticle volume concentration plays a vital role, as higher concentrations lead to improved heat transfer efficiency, especially at higher Ra, through enhanced thermal conductivity and thermal dispersion. The length of the porous fin greatly impacts fluid flow patterns and heat transfer rates, with longer fins creating more complex flow patterns, promoting enhanced heat transfer and stronger thermal plumes. Thermal radiation, represented by the radiation parameters (Rd and λ), significantly influences both the heat transfer rate and the convective flow patterns within the enclosure. This study also incorporates a comprehensive entropy generation analysis, providing novel insights into system irreversibilities and optimization potential. The entropy analysis reveals the complex interplay between various parameters and their impact on system efficiency, offering valuable guidance for designing high-performance thermal management systems.

Synergistic effects of multi-segmented magnetic fields, wavy-segmented cooling, and distributed heating on hybrid nanofluid convective flow in tilted porous enclosures

This study investigates the complex thermal-fluid behavior within a tilted porous enclosure filled with a Cu−Al2O3-water hybrid nanofluid, subject to segmented magnetic fields, wavy cooling segments, and distributed heat sources. The research explores the intricate interplay between geometric factors and thermal-magnetic forces to enhance heat transfer in industrial applications. The finite volume method (FVM), coupled with the SIMPLE algorithm and a TDMA solver, is employed to solve the governing transport equations. A comprehensive parametric analysis examines the effects of key dimensionless parameters: Darcy-Rayleigh number (10–104), Darcy number (10-4–10-1), Hartmann number (0–70), magnetic field angle (0°-180°), nanoparticle volume fraction (0–2 %), porosity (0.1–1.0), wavy cooler undulation height (0–0.3), magnetic segment width (0–1), number of segmental magnetic fields (0–4), and enclosure tilting angle (0°–180°). The study elucidates the physical mechanisms underlying the transition from uniform to segmented heating scenarios. Results reveal a remarkable enhancement of up to 38 % in heat transfer performance when transitioning from a conventional square enclosure to the proposed configuration with partial waviness on opposing walls. This improvement stems from increased surface area and disrupted thermal boundary layers, promoting better fluid mixing. The application of a segmented magnetic field with strategic orientation resulted in up to 26 % enhancement by modulating flow patterns and creating localized convection cells. The segmented heating generates thermal plumes that interact with the magnetic field-induced Lorentz forces, further improving thermal transport. The findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of efficient heat transfer systems in various industries, including electronics cooling, solar thermal collectors, and nuclear reactors, demonstrating significant potential for energy savings and improved thermal management through the strategic integration of hybrid nanofluids, magnetic fields, and geometric modifications in porous media applications.

Atmospheric dynamics and fire-induced phenomena: Insights from a comprehensive analysis of the Sertã wildfire event

The Sertã wildfire started on October 15th, 2017, in a mountainous area in central Portugal, on the hottest day of an exceptionally dry month compared to the previous two decades. This dry spell was attributed to a persistent heatwave from October 1st to 16th, which impacted most of mainland Portugal. Due to the critical weather and vegetation conditions, the fire was very intense, generating a thermal plume that reached high altitudes. The main purpose of this work is to analyze and discuss the impact of the Sertã wildfire on the dynamics of atmospheric mountain circulation. To accomplish this, a numerical modeling system integrating meteorological, fire spread, and smoke dispersion models was employed. The results indicate that the interaction between the wildfire and the local mountain breeze in central Portugal, under the synoptic weather conditions in Europe, which included the Hurricane Ophelia over the Atlantic Ocean and a warm-sector polar frontal depression in northern Europe, led to a locally disturbed weather situation. The consistent, efficient, and uniform local transport of atmospheric properties at lower levels was disrupted, intensifying wind shear and developing more turbulent advection patterns. Moreover, the fire's impact contributed to the development of a baroclinic wave at 500 hPa over mass centers, which settled at the surface and enhanced cloud development over the region. This phenomenon aligns with the atmospheric circulation effects studied in the Bjerknes and Rossby theories.

Impact of human micro-movements on breathing zone and thermal plume formation

To enhance the realism and precision of indoor environment assessments and the evaluation of human health risks using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), it is crucial to accurately replicate human shape and physiological functions. This study investigates the influence of micro-movements resulting from posture control on the human breathing zone (BZ) using CFD analysis. A Computer-Simulated Person (CSP) incorporating a sophisticated nasal cavity model and multi-node thermoregulation was employed to precisely predict the microclimate around the human body, including the BZ. Two types of movements were considered to replicate micro-movements of a standing human body: angular and linear movements. The BZs were evaluated based on the Scale for Ventilation Efficiency (SVE) 4 and 5 for exhalation and inhalation modes, respectively. While the distribution of exhaled air remained generally consistent, distinct differences were observed in inhaled air distribution. In a representative case with a maximum angular velocity of 4°/s, the horizontal length increased by 12 cm, and the vertical distance of the SVE5>10 % distribution decreased by 14 cm compared to the stationary case. Linear movement, particularly in the mediolateral (ML) direction, led to a horizontal expansion of the inhaled air distribution. The findings of this study suggest that replicating human micro-movements has a minimal impact on general indoor climate analysis but significantly enhances the accuracy of predicting breathing air quality.

The promotion effect of human activity intensity on displacement ventilation efficiency by the enhancement indoor thermal stratification

In a displacement ventilation system, the human body heat source plays a significant role and should not be overlooked. The intensity of human activity is a crucial factor in determining the amount of heat generated by the human body. In this work, the impact of thermal plumes generated by different levels of human activity intensity on the temperature stratification and ventilation efficiency in displacement ventilation system have been explored with experimental and numerical methods. The airflow patterns in the displacement air supply system under various levels of human activity intensity were simulated. The results show that under the same air supply speed, as the human activity intensity increasing from 125 W to 402 W, the phenomenon of temperature stratification becomes more pronounced. With the promotion of thermal plumes, the air flow velocity on the human body surface increases, leading to an enhancement in ventilation efficiency. Therefore, to elimination of the indoor thermal load, the air supply speed can be reasonably reduced according to the human activity intensity in the room, further enhancing the energy-saving effect of displacement ventilation.

Impingement of vortex dipole on heated boundaries and related thermal plume dynamics

The profound influence of an externally induced vortex dipole on thermal plume dynamics is numerically studied for varying Rayleigh numbers (Ra) employing the Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook collision model-based lattice Boltzmann method with a double distribution function approach. This study is extended to vortex dipole impingement with different types of heated bottom boundaries of two-dimensional domain, such as flat, “V-shaped,” and “inverted-V-shaped.” The vortex dipole impingement with the heated boundaries generates secondary vortices, which in turn produce vortex-driven thermal plumes, thereby advancing plume generation. The subsequent merging of the plumes enhances heat transport and leads to a continuous plume ascent. The presence of convex corners facilitates flow separation and also gives rise to the formation of secondary vortex dipoles, thereby significantly impacting the continuous generation of jet-like plumes when compared to concave configurations. The lack of an external vortex in pure buoyancy-driven flows produces less pronounced jet-like plumes and a relatively low Nusselt number. The boundary types and Ra significantly influence the vorticity production, resulting in higher enstrophy and palinstrophy for convex boundaries compared to flat and concave ones. A lower Prandtl number increases secondary vortices and corner rolls, leading to larger velocity gradients, higher thermal diffusivity, resulting in increased kinetic energy and thermal dissipation rates. The increased cell height enhances heat transfer at the top boundary due to improved heat convection from the slanted boundary and influence of early dipole impingement. Furthermore, kinetic energy dissipates in the dipole-driven flows and increases in the buoyancy-dominated flows.

A compact open boundary treatment for a pure thermal plume by direct numerical simulation

This study introduces a novel open boundary treatment method for simulating thermal plumes in natural convection, utilizing a combination of the Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) and local one-dimensional inviscid (LODI) methods within a compressible flow solver for Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS). This innovative approach significantly reduces the size of the computational domain yet effectively captures the complex transition from laminar to turbulent flow. Validation of the proposed methodology includes comparisons with existing empirical formulations, experimental data, and well-resolved DNS results, incorporating both time-averaged and spectral analyses. Additionally, the buoyancy-induced laminar-turbulent transition is investigated to enhance understanding of the dynamics and behaviors of thermal plumes. The findings offer insights into optimizing computational efficiency without compromising the accuracy needed to analyze intricate fluid dynamics in thermal engineering applications.

Impact of ventilated tunnels on smoke peculiarities in train carriage fires with multiple lateral openings

This research investigates the dynamics of smoke dispersion in a subway train carriage with multiple lateral openings within a ventilated subway tunnel. Numerous extensive full-scale numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the thermal plume distribution within multiple lateral openings of a train carriage, and the longitudinal and transverse maximum excess ceiling temperature. The results reveal that the heat release rates have a greater impact on the airflow in the carriage than velocities ,even when the longitudinal ventilation velocity reaches 8 m/s or the heat release rate reaches 15 MW. The multiple lateral openings cause significant differences in smoke flow characteristics compared to tunnels with both ends open. Additionally, the transverse maximum ceiling excess temperature inclines towards the lateral opening side due to asymmetrical air entrainment. The analysis of longitudinal maximum ceiling excess temperature identified two regions based on the dimensionless heat release rate, showing a linear increase followed by a constant phase dependent on the heat release rate, with a maximum longitudinal excess gas temperature of 1242 K. Additionally, a relationship between the dimensionless heat release rate and the transverse dimensionless maximum ceiling excess temperature was established. This study can be used as a guide for smoke exhaust mitigation and fire safety measures in the event of subway train carriage fires.

Toward occupant-centric system: Multicriteria optimization of hybrid displacement–personalized ventilation system using computational fluid dynamics with computer-simulated person

Engineers have integrated general ventilation systems with personalized ventilation (PV) to achieve energy efficiency while providing good indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort. Previous studies conducted parametric analyses of PV by varying its flow rate and temperature, analyzing energy, IAQ, and thermal comfort while keeping main ventilation settings constant, even though the latter significantly affect the general flow field. Therefore, computational fluid dynamics simulation is performed to simultaneously optimize the above-mentioned three outputs in an office with displacement ventilation (DV) and PV by varying the DV supply flow rate and temperature, the fraction of outlet air being resupplied to inlet or DV recirculation, and PV supply flow rate and temperature. We utilize the Taguchi design to minimize the number of simulations as well as use the “technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution” (TOPSIS) coupled with Taguchi's signal-to-noise ratio analysis for optimization. Four optimization cases are investigated by varying the thermal comfort and IAQ parameters from volume-averaged to occupant-centric values, such as the skin temperature and inhaled concentration. Results show that occupant-centric optimization presents low energy requirements with acceptable IAQ and thermal comfort compared with volume-averaged optimization, which can be attributed to imperfect mixing conditions. Furthermore, the DV settings and thermal plumes significantly affect the direction of jet released by the PV, which does not improve the IAQ. This underscores the importance of considering the aforementioned effects in maximizing the PV potential. Nevertheless, the PV system functions as intended under a flow rate of 6 L/s.

Natural convection heat transfer from a uniform wall temperature, vertical barrel-shaped solid/hollow cylinder to air in infinite surroundings: A numerical study

Natural convection heat transfer from a vertical barrel-shaped solid/hollow cylinder to air in the infinite surroundings in a laminar regime ( 10 4 ≤ Ra ≤ 10 8 ) numerically analyzed. The effect of Ra , length-to-diameter ratio ( 2 ≤ L / D ≤ 10 ) , and maximum diameter-to-diameter ratio ( 1.2 ≤ D max / D ≤ 1.9 ) has been investigated on the heat dissipation to the surroundings. The heat dissipation and the Nu ¯ increase with Ra for solid/hollow cylinders. We found that Nu ¯ out is always larger than Nu ¯ in . At a high L / D ratio, heat dissipation from the inner surface of a hollow cylinder remains constant for the entire range of D max / D ratios. But at a low D max / D and high Ra (i.e. Ra ≥ 106), Nu ¯ out for a hollow cylinder significantly decreases with D max / D ; whereas, it shows a marginal decrement at a high L / D ratio. The thermo-fluid dynamics have been delineated through the thermal plume, velocity vectors, and vortex generation at the inner and outer surfaces. Empirical correlations have also been developed.

Simultaneous Two-Colour Two-Dye Thermometry PLIF And PIV To Determine The Nusselt Number In Steady And Oscillatory Poiseuille-Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

In a flow field driven by natural or mixed convection, the measurement of heat transfer and hence the Nusselt number, requires simultaneous measurement of the vertical component of velocity and the vertical temperature gradient. The spatiotemporal nature of the formation of large-scale circulating structures, their interaction with the cross flow and its impact on heat transport, temperature distribution and wall shear stress also can be identified by simultaneous velocimetry and thermometry. An optical measurement system has been developed to apply a high sensetive ((~7 %)⁄℃) two-colour two-dye planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) to identify the flow and temperature organization and measure the heat transfer and wall shear stress. The system is to be used to investigate a Poiseuille-Rayleigh-Bénard convection system designed and fabricated to operate in both continuous and oscillatory conditions. The aim is to allow investigation of the influence and effect of large-scale flow structures and thermal plumes on heat and flow transport properties.

Single-Dye Multispectral PLIF (SDMS-PLIF) For Quantitative Thermographic Visualisation Of Nucleate Boiling

The boiling of dielectric fluids in miniaturised channels has emerged as one of the most promising solutions to high- density electronics cooling. Although significant breakthroughs have been made, a fundamental understanding of the hydrodynamic and thermal performance in relevant flows is still lacking, which calls for further development of state-of-the-art measurement techniques and their deployment for the provision of high-quality, detailed experimental information. To this end, we conducted an experimental investigation of flow boiling in a miniaturised vertical square channel with a hydraulic diameter of 5 mm, using HFE-7100 as the working fluid. A whole-field thermographic imaging approach referred to as single-dye multispectral planar laser-induced fluorescence (SDMS-PLIF) was developed and applied to measure spatiotemporally-resolved temperature fields. For its implementation, Nile Red, a thermosensitive lipophilic dye, was dissolved in HFE-7100 as a fluorophore. The measurements were taken at selected conditions to achieve a nucleate boiling regime in a laminar flow. Time-lapse temperature maps provided direct evidence for bubble-induced mixing observed as thermal plumes, where a portion of hot fluid is advected above the thermal boundary layer at the heated wall and penetrates the colder bulk phase in the flow core.

Simplified identification of fire spread risk in building clusters based on digital image processing technology

ABSTRACT Due to factors such as smoke, the non fire identification rate and fire identification accuracy in building fire identification are low, resulting in poor identification results. Therefore, a simplified identification method for building fire spread risk based on digital image processing technology is proposed. A fire spread model is constructed by considering both thermal radiation and thermal plumes, and based on this model, changes in smoke, temperature, and other factors during the occurrence of a fire are obtained. Using K-means to improve the dark channel defogging algorithm, the image after defogging is obtained, making the colour of the image more prominent and the feature information more abundant. Using the area threshold method to further extract the flame target contour in the defogged image, and determine whether the suspected flame area is a flame. Finally, four aspects of colour, sharp corner characteristics, area growth characteristics, and automatic estimation of propagation direction were identified to obtain simplified identification results for fire propagation risk. The experimental results show that the average non fire recognition rate of the proposed method reaches 95.8%, with good fire recognition accuracy and recognition effect, which verifies its feasibility.

Dynamics of thermal plumes for large spaces: A comparative study of in-situ smoke test and a CFD model

This study focuses on natural convection heat transfer in building heating and ventilation. Amid advancements in natural ventilation and a changing energy landscape, innovative heating methods are crucial. Thermal radiators play a key role in enhancing heat convection and understanding thermal plumes to optimize heating efficiency.This study investigates the use of coloured smoke sources to visualize thermal plume flow fields in real-scale (in-situ), naturally ventilated large spaces, distinguishing itself from most studies that prioritize enhancing thermal efficiency radiator. It offers a way for both qualitative and quantitative validation of a CFD model using passive scalars and experimental images to illustrate thermal plume propagation. This novel approach provides an effective way to visualize and understand thermal plumes in spaces where other experimental techniques are challenging to implement.Experimental results showed high consistency between measured and CFD values for velocity, temperature, and heat exchange, with differences below 10 %. The study unveiled a low impact of initial smoke source velocities on plume visualization. Using coloured smoke images to validate the CFD model yielded errors from 2.3 % to 14.5 %, proving the method’s reliability for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of plume propagation, offering valuable insights into air propagation in naturally ventilated spaces.

Plume-scale confinement on thermal convection

Despite the ubiquity of thermal convection in nature and artificial systems, we still lack a unified formulation that integrates the system's geometry, fluid properties, and thermal forcing to characterize the transition from free to confined convective regimes. The latter is broadly relevant to understanding how convection transports energy and drives mixing across a wide range of environments, such as planetary atmospheres/oceans and hydrothermal flows through fractures, as well as engineering heatsinks and microfluidics for the control of mass and heat fluxes. Performing laboratory experiments in Hele-Shaw geometries, we find multiple transitions that are identified as remarkable shifts in flow structures and heat transport scaling, underpinning previous numerical studies. To unveil the mechanisms of the geometrically controlled transition, we focus on the smallest structure of convection, posing the following question: How free is a thermal plume in a closed system? We address this problem by proposing the degree of confinement [Formula: see text]-the ratio of the thermal plume's thickness in an unbounded domain to the lateral extent of the system-as a universal metric encapsulating all the physical parameters. Here, we characterize four convective regimes different in flow dimensionality and time dependency and demonstrate that the transitions across the regimes are well tied with [Formula: see text]. The introduced metric [Formula: see text] offers a unified characterization of convection in closed systems from the plume's standpoint.