Experimental Investigation of Natural Convection Losses From Open Cavities

TLDR: In this paper, both constrained and unconstrained cavity geometries were studied and detailed velocity profiles were obtained using laser doppler velocimetry for Rayleigh numbers between 3 x 10/sup 10/ and 2 x 10 /sup 11/, corresponding to a constant elevated wall temperature boundary condition.

Abstract: Experimental results for natural convection in a cavity are reported. Both constrained andd unconstrained cavity geometries were studied. Detailed velocity profiles were obtained using Laser doppler velocimetry for Rayleigh numbers between 3 x 10/sup 10/ and 2 x 10/sup 11/, corresponding to a constant elevated wall temperature boundary condition. Characteristics of two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows obtained with dye flow visualization are discussed, including boundary layer transition to turbulence, flow patterns in the cavity, and flow outside of the cavity. Local Nusselt number is correlated with local Rayleigh number for constrained and unconstrained cavities.