Thermal plume interaction with vertical surfaces

Abstract

An experimental study of the interaction of a laminar two-dimensional thermal plume with a neigboring vertical surface is carried out. The temperature field in the interaction region, downstream of the source, is studied to determine the nature of the buoyancy-induced flow that arises. Of particular interest was the effect of the buoyant heated flow on the surface temperature level. The flow is found to be strongly deflected towards the surface, for the range of physical variables considered. The dependence of the resulting flow on the variables, such as heat input and distance of the source from the surface, is determined. The underlying physical processes are considered in terms of the observed trends.