Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T14:02:44.419Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Experimental study of double-diffusive instability in sidewall heating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

Charles G. Jeevaraj
Affiliation:
Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
Jörg Imberger
Affiliation:
Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia

Abstract

The response of a salinity-stratified fluid to sidewall heating is examined. Experiments were conducted using a linear salt gradient alone and with a combination of salt and thermal gradient in which the thermal stratification destabilized the density. The dominant feature of the flow was intrusions which propagated into the interior of the fluid. These were studied using shadowgraph, vertical temperature and salinity profiles, and dye streaks. Using the theory for convection in a long shallow cavity, an expression is derived for the velocity of propagation of the intrusions. The mechanism by which intrusions merge is also discussed to explain the observed formation of wavy interfaces during merging.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1991 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akbarzadbh, A. & Mannins, P., 1988 Convective layers generated by side walls in solar ponds. Solar Energy 41, 521529.Google Scholar
Bergman, T. T. & Ungan, A., 1988 A note on lateral heating in a double-diffusive system. J. Fluid Mech. 194n, 175186.Google Scholar
Carter, G. D. & Imberger, J., 1986 Vertically rising micro-structure profiler. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol. 3, 462471.Google Scholar
Chen, C. F., Bhiggs, D. G. & Wirtz, R. A., 1971 Stability of thermal convection in a salinity gradient due to lateral heating. Intl J. Heat Mass Transfer 14, 5765.Google Scholar
Cormackr, D. E., Leal, L. G. & Imberger, J., 1974 Natural convection in a shallow cavity with differentially heated end walls. Part 1. Asymptotic theory. J. Fluid Mech. 65, 209229.Google Scholar
Head, M. J.: 1983 The use of miniature four-electrode conductivity probes for high resolution measurement of turbulent density or temperature variations in salt-stratified water flows. Ph.D. thesis, University of California, San Diego.
Huppert, H. E., Kerr, R. C. & Hallworth, M. A., 1984 Heating or cooling a stable compositional gradient from the side. Intl J. Heat Mass Transfer 27, 13951401.Google Scholar
Huppert, H. E. & Turner, J. S., 1980 Ice blocks melting into a salinity gradient. J. Fluid Mech. 100, 367384.Google Scholar
Imberger, J.: 1974 Natural convection in a shallow cavity with differentially heated end walls. Part 3. Experimental results. J. Fluid Mech. 65, 247260.Google Scholar
Linden, P. F. & Weber, J. E., 1977 The formation of layers in a double-diffusive system with the sloping boundary. J. Fluid Mech. 81, 757773.Google Scholar
Millebo, F. J. & Poisson, A., 1981 Summary of data treatment for the UNESCO one atmosphere equation of state for seawater. Deep-Sea Res. 28A, 625629.Google Scholar
Nakusawa, U. & Suzukawa, Y., 1981 Experimental study of double-diffusive cellular convection due to a uniform lateral heat flux. J. Fluid Mech. 113, 387405.Google Scholar
Paliwal, R. C. & Chen, C. F., 1980 Double-diffusive instability in an inclined fluid layer. Part 1. Experimental investigation. J. Fluid Mech. 98N, 755768.Google Scholar
Patterson, J. & Imberger, J., 1980 Unsteady natural convection in a rectangular cavity. J. Fluid Mech. 100, 6586.Google Scholar
Schladow, S. G.: 1985 The dynamics of salt gradient solar pond. Ph.D. thesis, Centre for Water Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
Schladow, S. G.: 1988 Simulation of dynamics of double-diffusive system. J. Hydraul. Engng Div. ASCE 114, 120.Google Scholar
Schladow, S. G. & Imberger, J., 1987 Sidewall effects in a double diffusive system. J. Geophys. Res. 92 (C6), 65016514.Google Scholar
Shermanr, B. G. & Imberger, J., 1990 Control of a solar pond. Solar Energy (in press).Google Scholar
Suzukawa, Y. & Narusawa, U., 1982 Structure of growing double diffusive convection cells. Trans. ASMS C: J. Heat Transfer 104, 248254.Google Scholar
Tanny, J. & Tsinober, A. B., 1988 The dynamics and structure of double-diffusive layers in sidewall heating experiments. J. Fluid Mech. 196, 135156.Google Scholar
Thorpe, S. A., Hutt, P. K. & Soulsby, R., 1969 The effect of horizontal gradients on thermohaline convection. J. Fluid Mech. 38, 375400.Google Scholar
Turner, J. S.: 1985 Multicomponent convection. Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 17, 1144.Google Scholar
Turner, J. S. & Chen, C. F., 1974 Two dimensional effects in double diffusive convection. J. Fluid Mech. 63, 577592.Google Scholar
Wirtz, R. A. & Reddy, C. S., 1979 Experiments on convective layer formation and merging in a differentially heated slot. J. Fluid Mech. 91, 451464.Google Scholar