Buoyancy effect on the wake of a confined circular cylinder during opposing laminar mixed convection heat transfer

摘要

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are carried out in an experimental investigation of transient laminar opposing mixed convection to assess the thermal effects on the wake of an isothermal circular cylinder placed horizontally and confined inside a vertical closed-loop downward rectangular water channel. The buoyancy effect on the flow distributions are revealed for flow conditions with Reynolds number based on cylinder diameter of Re=170, blockage ratio D/H=0.287, aspect ratio, L/D=6.97 and values of the buoyancy parameter (Richardson number) of Ri=0 and 1. Results show that the wake closure length and Strouhal number slightly decrease for increasing Richardson number.