Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T05:23:02.399Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Three-dimensional flow in a closed thermosyphon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

G. D. Mallinson
Affiliation:
Department of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Aeronautical Research Laboratories, Melbourne, Australia
A. D. Graham
Affiliation:
Department of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Aeronautical Research Laboratories, Melbourne, Australia
G. De Vahl Davis
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

A numerical and experimental study has been made of the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer by natural convection in a closed, rectangular thermosyphon. At low Rayleigh numbers, the flows in the two halves of the cavity remain separate, with heat transfer across the mid-height plane occurring only by conduction. At increasing Rayleigh numbers, an exchange process of increasing complexity occurs. The numerical solutions were used to explore this process and to predict flow patterns which were found to resemble closely those observed during previous investigations of cylindrical thermosyphons. The results were verified by a flow visualization study. Heat-transfer rates are presented and augment previous data for higher values of the governing parameters.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1981 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

Boussinesq, J. 1903 Théorie Analytique de la Chaleur, vol. 2, p. 172. Gauthier-Villars.
Japikse, D., Jallouk, P. A. & Winter, E. R. F. 1971 Single-phase transport processes in the closed thermosyphon. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 14, 869887.Google Scholar
Japiske, D. & Winter, E. R. F. 1970 Heat transfer and flow in the closed thermosyphon. In Heat Transfer 1970, vol. 4, paper NC2. 9. Elsevier.
Larkin, B. S. 1967 Heat transfer in a two-phase thermosyphon tube. Canada Nat. Res. Counc. Rep. no. 3, pp. 4553.Google Scholar
Mallinson, G. D. & de Vahl Davis, G. 1973 The method of the false transient for the solution of coupled elliptic equations. J. Comp. Phys. 12, 435461.Google Scholar
Mallinson, G. D. & de Vahl Davis, G. 1977 Natural convection in a box: a numerical study. J. Fluid Mech. 83, 131.Google Scholar
Mallinson, G. D. & Graham, A. D. 1974 Experimental visualisation of three dimensional natural convection. Proc. 5th Aust. Conf. Hydraulics and Fluid Mech., Christchurch, N.Z., vol. 2, pp. 323330.
Ogale, V. A. 1968 On the application of the semi-closed thermosyphon system to gas turbine blade cooling. Dr. Diss. Technological University Delft.