Experiments on rapidly rotating convection: The role of the Prandtl number
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We measure the efficiency of convective heat transfer (Nusselt number) by turbulent convection in a rapidly rotating Rayleigh-B\'enard convection experiment. Series of measurements are done at two constant values of the Rayleigh number. Using water at different mean temperatures, we change the Prandtl number. Raising the Prandtl number leads to a reduction of the Nusselt number with a significantly stronger dependence than without rotation. We hypothesize that this dependence is caused by the changing ratio of the thermal and kinetic boundary layer thicknesses.
Source: Physical Review Fluids
DOI: 10.1103/n66p-zhpw
Authors: Hannah M. Clercx, Rudie P. J. Kunnen
Institution: Eindhoven University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Mechanics
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4417267789