Publicou 6 edições por ano
ISSN Imprimir: 2152-5102
ISSN On-line: 2152-5110
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Effect of the Buoyancy Ratio on the Number of Double-Diffusive Cells in a Rectangular Enclosure
RESUMO
Double diffusive multi-cells are formed in a rectangular enclosure when horizontal temperature and concentration gradients are present in a certain range of parameters. The system parameters are thermal Grashof number, solutal Grashof number, Prandtl number, and Schmidt number for an enclosure with a given aspect ratio. Depending on the ratio of thermal and solutal Grashof numbers flow patterns due to double diffusive natural convection change, as the number of cells change. The flow structure determines the heat and mass transfer characteristics from the vertical surfaces of the cavity. It is the objective of the present study to investigate the effect of the ratio of thermal and solutal buoyant forces on the number of double diffusive cells formed in a vertical rectangular enclosure. An electrochemical copper deposition system is utilized with the vertical electrode maintained at different temperatures. Temperature distribution is measured using a thermocouple probe along the vertical centerline. The concentration distribution of cupric ion in the enclosure is determined by measuring the attenuation of light through the test cell. In well developed cells, concentration is nearly uniform in each cell, and there are large concentration gradients across the interfaces. The temperature distribution shows a stable stratification in each cell and temperature inversion across the cell interfaces. The interfaces are not quite clear in case the cell does not have appreciable size. The number of cells in a cavity is investigated as a function of the buoyancy ratio.