Towards numerical computation of double-diffusive natural convection within an eccentric horizontal cylindrical annulus

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to numerically study the double-diffusive natural convection within an eccentric horizontal cylindrical annulus filled with a Newtonian fluid. The annulus walls are maintained at uniform temperatures and concentrations so as to induce aiding thermal and mass buoyancy forces within the fluid. For that, this simulation span a moderate range of thermal Rayleigh number (100RaT100,000), Lewis (0.1Le10), buoyancy ratio (0N5) and Prandtl number (Pr=0.71) to examine their effects on flow motion and heat and mass transfers. Design/methodology/approach – A finite volume method in conjunction with the successive under-relaxation algorithm has been developed to solve the bipolar equations. These are written in dimensionless form in terms of vorticity, stream function, temperature and concentration. Beforehand, the implemented computer code has been validated through already published findings in the literature. The isotherms, streamlines and iso-concentrations are exhibited for various values of Rayleigh and Lewis numbers, and buoyancy ratio. In addition, heat and mass transfer rates in the annulus are translated in terms of Nusslet and Sherwood numbers along the enclosure’s sides. Findings – It is observed that, for the range of parameters considered here, the results show that the average Sherwood number increases with, while the average Nusselt number slightly dips as the Lewis number increases. It is also found that, under the convective mode, the local Nusselt number (or Sherwood) increases with the buoyancy ratio. Likewise, according to Lewis number’s value, the flow pattern is either symmetric and stable or asymmetric and random. Besides that, the heat transfer is transiting from a conductive mode to a convective mode with increasing the thermal Rayleigh number, and the flow structure and the rates of heat and mass transfer are significantly influenced by this parameter. Research limitations/implications – The range of the Rayleigh number considered here covers only the laminar case, with some constant parameters, namely the Prandtl number (Pr = 0.71), and the tilt angle (α=90°). The analysis here is only valid for steady, two-dimensional, laminar and aiding flow within an eccentric horizontal cylindrical annulus. This motivates further investigations involving other relevant parameters as N (opposite flows), Ra, Pr, Le, the eccentricity, the tilt angle, etc. Practical implications – An original framework for handling the double-diffusive natural convection within annuli is available, based on the bipolar equations. In addition, the achievement of this work could help researchers design thermal systems supported by annulus passages. Applications of the results can be of value in various arrangements such as storage of liquefied gases, electronic cable cooling systems, nuclear reactors, underground disposal of nuclear wastes, manifolds of solar energy collectors, etc. Originality/value – Given the geometry concerned, the bipolar coordinates have been used to set the inner and outer walls boundary conditions properly without interpolation. In addition, since studies on double-diffusive natural convection in annuli are lacking, the obtained results may be of interest to handle other configurations (e.g., elliptical-shaped speakers) with other boundary conditions.