Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural convection in a bottom-heated top-cooled cubic cavity with a baffle at the median height: experiment and model validation

  • Original
  • Published:
Heat and Mass Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation on the natural convection flow and heat transfer in an enclosure with a single-hole baffle at the median height. The temperature in the fluid is quantified by means of temperature sensitive thermo-chromic liquid crystal (TLC) particles. The fluid flow velocity is measured non-intrusively with a full field particle tracking technique. The three-dimensional numerical model, developed and validated with experimental data, provides a computational tool for further investigation of mass and energy transport through the baffle openings in these types of enclosures. The experimentally visualized and numerically simulated flow structures show a pair of streams across the baffle-hole. The two chambers communicate through this pair of streams which carry the fluid exchange and heat transfer between the two chambers. At the baffle opening, the two streams are aligned in a diagonal direction across of the enclosure. The streams are accelerated and form jet-like flows that drive the whole circulation in the chambers. The jet-like flows leave the baffle opening, approach the vertical centerline of the cavity, and finally impinge on the top/bottom walls.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Roux B, Louchart O, Terhmina O (1994) Hydrodynamic aspect of hydrothermal synthesis of quartz bulk flow regimes. J Phys IV(4):C2–C3

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chen QS, Prasad V, Chatterjee A (1998) Modeling of fluid flow and heat transfer in a hydrothermal crystal growth system: use of fluid-superposed porous layer theory. In: Proceedings of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Heat Transfer Division, HTD 361-4, p 119

  3. Chen QS, Prasad V, Chatterjee A, Larkin J (1999) A porous media-based transport model for hydrothermal growth. J Cryst Growth 198/199:710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Li H, Evans EA, Wang G-X (2003) Flow of solution in hydrothermal autoclaves with various aspect ratios. J Cryst Growth 256(1–2):146–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Li H, Wang G-X, Evans EA (2004) Three-dimensional flow of solution in an autoclave subjected to non-uniform heating—effects of a baffle on flow and temperature separations. J Cryst Growth 271(1–2):257–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Li H, Braun MJ, Evans EA, Wang G-X, Paudal G, Miller J (2005a) Flow structure and heat transfer of the natural convection in a model hydrothermal growth reactor. Int J Heat Fluid Flow 26(1):45–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Li H, Evans EA, Wang G-X (2005b) Single- and multi-hole baffles—a heat transfer and fluid flow control for hydrothermal growth. J Cryst Growth 275(3–4):561–571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Byrappa K (1994) Hydrothermal growth of crystals. In: Hurle DTJ (ed) Handbook of crystal growth. Elsevier, North-Holland, p 465

  9. Lobechev AN (1973) Crystalization process under hydrothermal conditions. Consultant bureau, New York

  10. Laudise RA, Nielsen JW (1961) Hydrothermal Crystal Growth. Solid State Phys 12:149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kuznetsov VA, Lobachev AN (1973) Hydrothermal method for the growth of crystals. Sov Phys Crystallogr 17(4):775

    Google Scholar 

  12. Klipov VA, Shmakov NN (1991) Influence of convective flow on the growth of synthetic quartz crystals. In: Proceedings of the 45th annual symposium on frequency control, IEEE

  13. Braun MJ, Choy FK, Moore CH, Lattime SB (1993) A hue based computer automated method for non-intrusive temperature evaluation using thermochromic liquid crystals. In: Imaging in transport processes, chap 13. Begell House Inc., pp 157–169

  14. Braun MJ, Hendricks RC, Canacci V (1990) Non-intrusive qualitative and quantitative flow characterization and bulk flow model for brush seals. In: Proceedings of the Japan International Tribology Conference, Nagoya, Japan, vol III, pp 1611–1616

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA

    Hongmin Li, Changhu Xing & Minel J. Braun

Authors
  1. Hongmin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Changhu Xing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Minel J. Braun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hongmin Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, H., Xing, C. & Braun, M.J. Natural convection in a bottom-heated top-cooled cubic cavity with a baffle at the median height: experiment and model validation. Heat Mass Transfer 43, 895–905 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-006-0178-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-006-0178-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation