Buoyancy-driven flow between two rooms coupled by two openings at different levels

Abstract

The stack-driven flow between two interconnected rooms produced by a single heat source is studied. In particular, the features of the transient flow for different positions and areas of two openings in the shared vertical wall are analysed. An analytical model provides the time evolution of the stratified flows in rooms of any size. The concept of an equivalent layer representing a non-uniform density profile, which is useful in other contexts, is included in the theoretical approach and provides physical insight and aids the mathematical solution of the problem. New salt-bath experiments are performed to simulate the thermal forcing between the rooms, to validate the model and to analyse the mixing generated and the effects of a source of volume in the configuration studied.