Heat transfer in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection within two immiscible fluid layers

Abstract

We numerically investigate turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection within two immiscible fluid layers, aiming to understand how the layer thickness and fluid properties affect the heat transfer (characterized by the Nusselt number $Nu$) in two-layer systems. Both two- and three-dimensional simulations are performed at fixed global Rayleigh number $Ra=10^8$, Prandtl number $Pr=4.38$, and Weber number $We=5$. We vary the relative thickness of the upper layer between $0.01\le \hat{I}\pm \le 0.99$ and the thermal conductivity coefficient ratio of the two liquids between $0.1\le \hat{I}{»}_k\le 10$. Two flow regimes are observed: In the first regime at $0.04\le \hat{I}\pm \le 0.96$, convective flows appear in both layers and $Nu$ is not sensitive to $\hat{I}\pm$. In the second regime at $\hat{I}\pm \le 0.02$ or $\hat{I}\pm \ge 0.98$, convective flow only exists in the thicker layer, while the thinner one is dominated by pure conduction. In this regime, $Nu$ is sensitive to $\hat{I}\pm$. To predict $Nu$ in the system in which the two layers are separated by a unique interface, we apply the Grossmann-Lohse theory for both individual layers and impose heat flux conservation at the interface. Without introducing any free parameter, the predictions for $Nu$ and for the temperature at the interface well agree with our numerical results and previous experimental data.

13 pages, 6 figures