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Thermal instability of a horizontal layer of liquid with maximum density
Author(s) -
Sun ZuShung,
Tien Chi,
Yen YinChao
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690150619
Subject(s) - thermodynamics , work (physics) , rayleigh number , convection , instability , materials science , thermal , maximum density , chemistry , natural convection , physics , mechanics
An investigation is carried out to determine the onset of convection of a horizontal layer of liquid subject to temperature of T 1 and T 2 at lower and upper surfaces, respectively. The liquid is assumed to possess a maximum density value at T max with T max between T 1 and T 2 . The temperature‐density relationship within the temperature range | T 1 — T 2 | can be expressed as ρ = ρ max [1 — γ 1 ( T — T max ) 2 — γ2 ( T — T max ) 3 ]. Both rigid‐rigid and rigid‐free surface conditions were considered. The critical Rayleigh number defined in Equations (20) and (24) is found to be dependent upon two parameters. Experimental observations on the onset of convection were made and compared with the theoretical results. The experimental work consists of the measurement of the melting rate of a block of ice with melting from both below and above. In all cases, excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results were obtained.