Effect of Gap Length and Partition Thickness on Thermal Boundary Layer in Thermal Convection
Zhengyu Wang,
Huilin Tong,
Zhengdao Wang,
Hui Yang,
Yikun Wei,
Yuehong Qian
Affiliations
Zhengyu Wang
National-Provincial Joint Engineering Laboratory for Fluid Transmission System Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Huilin Tong
National-Provincial Joint Engineering Laboratory for Fluid Transmission System Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Zhengdao Wang
National-Provincial Joint Engineering Laboratory for Fluid Transmission System Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Hui Yang
National-Provincial Joint Engineering Laboratory for Fluid Transmission System Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Yikun Wei
National-Provincial Joint Engineering Laboratory for Fluid Transmission System Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Yuehong Qian
School of Mathematical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Two-dimensional direct numerical simulations of partitioned thermal convection are performed using the thermal lattice Boltzmann method for the Rayleigh number (Ra) of 109 and the Prandtl number (Pr) of 7.02 (water). The influence of the partition walls on the thermal boundary layer is mainly focused on. Moreover, to better describe the spatially nonuniform thermal boundary layer, the definition of the thermal boundary layer is extended. The numerical simulation results show that the gap length significantly affects the thermal boundary layer and Nusselt number (Nu). The gap length and partition wall thickness have a coupled effect on the thermal boundary layer and the heat flux. Based on the shape of the thermal boundary layer distribution, two different heat transfer models are identified at different gap lengths. This study provides a basis for improving the understanding of the effect of partitions on the thermal boundary layer in thermal convection.
