Numerical Simulation of Mixed Convection in a Rotating Cylindrical Cavity: Influence of Prandtl Number

• Main Authors: Gustavo Urquiza, Laura Castro, Juan García, Miguel Basurto, Enoc Bogarin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2013-01-01
• Series: Advances in Mechanical Engineering
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/950765

A numerical study of the flow and heat transfer on a rotating cylindrical cavity solving the mass, momentum, and energy equations is presented in this work. The study describes the influence of the Prandtl number on flow in critical state on a cavity which contains a cooling fluid. Problem studied includes Prandtl numbers 0.001 < Pr > 15, aspect ratios 0.25 < A > 1, and Reynolds numbers 0.001 < Re > 600. Differential equations have been discretised using the finite differences method. The results show a tendency followed by heat transfer as the Reynolds number increases from 300 to 600; in addition, emphasis on the critical values of the Rayleigh number for small Prandtl numbers shows that thermal instability in mixed convection depends on the Prandtl number.