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Free keywords:
convection
Abstract:
We analyse the global flow structures in horizontal convection systems, where the heat supply and removal takes place through separated parts of a lower horizontal surface of a fluid layer. The results are based on direct numerical simulations for the length-to height aspect ratio of the convection cell Gamma = 10, Rayleigh number Ra from 3 x 10(8) to 3 x 10(11) and Prandtl number Pr from 0.05 to 50. The structure of the mean flows in horizontal convection is described in terms of time-averaged spatial distributions of the temperature, velocity, kinetic energy, thermal and kinetic dissipation rates. A possible scenario of transition to turbulent horizontal convection in the whole convection cell of a large aspect ratio is discussed.
