DOI: 10.1615/ICHMT.2012.ProcSevIntSympTurbHeatTransfPal
ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-302-4
ISSN: 2377-2816
Scaling of the thermally coupled natural convection boundary layers on a conducting vertical plate
RÉSUMÉ
Natural convection boundary layers developing on both sides of a vertical plate between two fluids at different temperature are studied. Heat transfer between the two fluids through the plate causes one fluid to undergo heating, while the other is cooled. Buoyancy forces induce vertical fluid movements and boundary layer development in opposite directions on either side of the plate. The temperature distribution on the plate depends on the coupling between the two convective systems. A scaling analysis for the unsteady growth of the boundary layers, including the start-up, transition and fully developed phases, is presented. The two boundary layers adjacent to the plate retain similarity, despite the opposite growth directions. Full direct numerical simulations support the validity of the scaling laws.