Laminar gravitational convection of heat in dead-end channels

Abstract

A closed-form solution of the coupled momentum and thermal energy equations is obtained for laminar gravitational circulation of water resulting from a longitudinal temperature gradient in a dead-end channel. The temperature gradient is determined by the rate of heat loss from the water surface. The solution is shown to be dependent on a modified Rayleigh number which involves the local surface heat-transfer coefficient. An experimental study was conducted, and the results are compared with the closed-form solution.