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Thermally stratifying a wind tunnel for buoyancy influenced flows

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Abstract

A novel method of heating wind tunnel flows to strong thermal stratifications is described. Variable electric heating is employed to create user-selectable temperature profiles in steady, uniform mean flow. Linear temperature gradients of up to 200 °C/m (Väisälä frequencies of 2.5 rad s-1) can be sustained. The performance of the facility is discussed in the context of continuously-stratified grid-generated turbulence, although it is useful for a broader set of applications. The flow field is found to be free of deleterious natural convection and internal wave effects. The departure from homogeneity of grid-generated, stratified turbulence in the facility is roughly ±10% away from the wall influenced regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 02139, Cambridge, MA, USA

    J. H. Lienhard V

  2. Department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, University of California at San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA

    C. W. Van Atta

Authors
  1. J. H. Lienhard V
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  2. C. W. Van Atta
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Lienhard V, J.H., Van Atta, C.W. Thermally stratifying a wind tunnel for buoyancy influenced flows. Experiments in Fluids 7, 542–546 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187405

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00187405

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