This thesis addresses modeling transport phenomena in porous media with special attention being paid to convective characteristics of variable viscosity fluids in a homogeneous and isotropic medium. Two different categories of flows, with totally different driving forces, are considered being forced and free convection (both side and bottom heating, for a square enclosure, are studied). To account for property variation, the density is modeled by an Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation while the viscosity is modeled by an exponential function. The limitations of the previous work, addressing the issue, are discussed in detail and improvements, in terms of thermo-hydraulic performance of the system are suggested. Dealing with the global aspects of the problem, the two major methods being the reference temperature and the property ratio approach are implemented. For natural convection problems, the former method is used; while for forced convection the latter is undertaken. New correlations, which are proved to be more accurate, are proposed for both forced and free convection problems. Besides, closed form solutions are reported for some cases of constant and variable viscosity. Convection visualization is also studied in detail where the concept of Energy Flux Vectors is put forward along with the application of heatlines and energy streamlines. It was mathematically shown that in two-dimensional space heatlines and energy streamlines, which were invented independently, are the same as each other. Moreover, the newly developed concept, energy flux vectors serve as a new tool for convection visualization with the main advantage that this new technique, unlike heatlines and energy streamlines, does not require further (and sometimes complicated) numerical analysis in addition to solving momentum and thermal energy equations. This, in its turn, reduces the time and computer resources required to see the flow of energy. Finally, in Chapter 7, the summary of the work along with the conclusions are presented. Finally, recommendations for future studies are put forward.

This thesis addresses modeling transport phenomena in porous media with special attention being paid to convective characteristics of variable viscosity fluids in a homogeneous and isotropic medium. Two different categories of flows, with totally different driving forces, are considered being forced and free convection (both side and bottom heating, for a square enclosure, are studied). To account for property variation, the density is modeled by an Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation while the viscosity is modeled by an exponential function. The limitations of the previous work, addressing the issue, are discussed in detail and improvements, in terms of thermo-hydraulic performance of the system are suggested. Dealing with the global aspects of the problem, the two major methods being the reference temperature and the property ratio approach are implemented. For natural convection problems, the former method is used; while for forced convection the latter is undertaken. New correlations, which are proved to be more accurate, are proposed for both forced and free convection problems. Besides, closed form solutions are reported for some cases of constant and variable viscosity. Convection visualization is also studied in detail where the concept of Energy Flux Vectors is put forward along with the application of heatlines and energy streamlines. It was mathematically shown that in two-dimensional space heatlines and energy streamlines, which were invented independently, are the same as each other. Moreover, the newly developed concept, energy flux vectors serve as a new tool for convection visualization with the main advantage that this new technique, unlike heatlines and energy streamlines, does not require further (and sometimes complicated) numerical analysis in addition to solving momentum and thermal energy equations. This, in its turn, reduces the time and computer resources required to see the flow of energy. Finally, in Chapter 7, the summary of the work along with the conclusions are presented. Finally, recommendations for future studies are put forward.

This thesis addresses modeling transport phenomena in porous media with special attention being paid to convective characteristics of variable viscosity fluids in a homogeneous and isotropic medium. Two different categories of flows, with totally different driving forces, are considered being forced and free convection (both side and bottom heating, for a square enclosure, are studied). To account for property variation, the density is modeled by an Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation while the viscosity is modeled by an exponential function. The limitations of the previous work, addressing the issue, are discussed in detail and improvements, in terms of thermo-hydraulic performance of the system are suggested. Dealing with the global aspects of the problem, the two major methods being the reference temperature and the property ratio approach are implemented. For natural convection problems, the former method is used; while for forced convection the latter is undertaken. New correlations, which are proved to be more accurate, are proposed for both forced and free convection problems. Besides, closed form solutions are reported for some cases of constant and variable viscosity. Convection visualization is also studied in detail where the concept of Energy Flux Vectors is put forward along with the application of heatlines and energy streamlines. It was mathematically shown that in two-dimensional space heatlines and energy streamlines, which were invented independently, are the same as each other. Moreover, the newly developed concept, energy flux vectors serve as a new tool for convection visualization with the main advantage that this new technique, unlike heatlines and energy streamlines, does not require further (and sometimes complicated) numerical analysis in addition to solving momentum and thermal energy equations. This, in its turn, reduces the time and computer resources required to see the flow of energy. Finally, in Chapter 7, the summary of the work along with the conclusions are presented. Finally, recommendations for future studies are put forward.

This thesis addresses modeling transport phenomena in porous media with special attention being paid to convective characteristics of variable viscosity fluids in a homogeneous and isotropic medium. Two different categories of flows, with totally different driving forces, are considered being forced and free convection (both side and bottom heating, for a square enclosure, are studied). To account for property variation, the density is modeled by an Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation while the viscosity is modeled by an exponential function. The limitations of the previous work, addressing the issue, are discussed in detail and improvements, in terms of thermo-hydraulic performance of the system are suggested. Dealing with the global aspects of the problem, the two major methods being the reference temperature and the property ratio approach are implemented. For natural convection problems, the former method is used; while for forced convection the latter is undertaken. New correlations, which are proved to be more accurate, are proposed for both forced and free convection problems. Besides, closed form solutions are reported for some cases of constant and variable viscosity. Convection visualization is also studied in detail where the concept of Energy Flux Vectors is put forward along with the application of heatlines and energy streamlines. It was mathematically shown that in two-dimensional space heatlines and energy streamlines, which were invented independently, are the same as each other. Moreover, the newly developed concept, energy flux vectors serve as a new tool for convection visualization with the main advantage that this new technique, unlike heatlines and energy streamlines, does not require further (and sometimes complicated) numerical analysis in addition to solving momentum and thermal energy equations. This, in its turn, reduces the time and computer resources required to see the flow of energy. Finally, in Chapter 7, the summary of the work along with the conclusions are presented. Finally, recommendations for future studies are put forward.

Dans les centrales solaires à tour, le flux solaire est concentré vers un récepteur solaire où son énergie est transférée à un fluide caloporteur. L'écoulement au sein du récepteur solaire est turbulent, fortement anisotherme et à bas nombre de Mach. L'optimisation du récepteur solaire exige une meilleure compréhension et modélisation de l'interaction entre la température et la turbulence. Cette thèse cherche à y contribuer selon deux approches. Tout d'abord, on étudie les échanges énergétiques entre les différentes parties de l'énergie totale. On propose pour cela une nouvelle représentation des échanges énergétiques, fondée sur la moyenne de Reynolds. Cette représentation permet la caractérisation, à partir de simulations numériques directes d'un canal plan bipériodique anisotherme, de l'effet du gradient de température sur les échanges énergétiques associées à l'énergie cinétique turbulente dans les domaines spatial et spectral. Ensuite, on étudie la simulation des grandes échelles des équations de bas nombre de Mach. En utilisant les résultats de simulations numériques directes, on identifie les termes sous-mailles spécifiques à modéliser lorsque l'on utilise le filtre classique, non pondéré, et lorsque l'on utilise le filtre de Favre, pondéré par la masse volumique. Dans les deux cas, on évalue a priori la performance de différents modèles sous-mailles. La pertinence des modèles est vérifiée a posteriori par la réalisation de simulation des grandes échelles. / In solar power towers, the solar flux is concentrated towards a solar receiver, wherethrough its energy is transferred to a heat transfer fluid. The flow in the solar receiver is turbulent, strongly anisothermal and at low Mach number. The optimisation of the solar receiver requires a better understanding and modelling of the interaction between temperature and turbulence. In this thesis, this is investigated following two approaches. First, we study the energy exchanges between the different parts of total energy. To this end, a new representation of the energy exchanges, based on the Reynolds averaging, is established. The representation allows the characterisation, from direct numerical simulations of a strongly anisothermal channel flow, of the effect of the temperature gradient on the energy exchanges associated with turbulence kinetic energy in the spatial and spectral domains. Second, we study the large-eddy simulation of the low Mach number equations. Using the results of direct numerical simulations, we identify the specific subgrid terms to model when the unweighted classical filter is used and when the density-weighted Favre filter is used. In both cases, the performance of different subgrid-scale models is assessed a priori. The relevance of the subgrid-scale models is then verified a posteriori by carrying out large-eddy simulations.

Experimental observations indicate the presence of attached, gravity induced, horizontal buoyant currents above large area fires. Their driving mechanism is indirect and resembles the one observed above heated horizontal plates. Classic plume modelling is satisfactory for providing information for the flow far from the source. In dealing with large areas and directing attention to the flow close to the source, the classic plume theory should fail because the radial pressure gradient that is responsible for the driving of the flow is squeezed in the long and thin classic plume assumption. For this we propose a new plume structure for the description of the buoyant flow above a circular region of large radius L as “The flow field must be divided into three regions. A region where the flow is predominantly horizontal and attached to the surface, a transition region from horizontal to vertical where separation of the attached current takes place, and a region where vertical flow is established and classic plume theory can be applied”. A model for the description of the gross properties of the horizontal currents is developed under the term “horizontal plume”. The modified Richardson number for the horizontal plume a, being analogous to the radius of the large area, is studied asymptotically in the limit a → ∞ and second order uniformly valid semi-analytical solutions are obtained. The hot plate experiment was set up in order to test the model and facilitate its improvement. A chapter is dedicated to the data analysis coming from thermocouple readings and visualisation of the flow using particle image velocimetry.In the remainder of this thesis two classic problems of laminar natural convection are revisited. That of the first order laminar boundary layer above an isothermal circular plate of radius a and the first order laminar boundary layer above the semi- infinite plate inclined to horizontal. In both cases allowances to variable property effects were made through the introduction of a nondimensional parameter λT, with its value set to zero implying the assumption of the Boussinesq approximation. For the circular plate, fourth order series solutions were obtained valid at the edge of the plate where the effects of λT and Prandtl number Pr are studied. Furthermore a finite difference scheme for the numerical solution of the nonsimilar partial integro- differential equation was developed using the Keller Box method and compared with results obtained from the commercial finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a. For the semi-infinite plate, fourth order series approximations valid at the edge of the plate were obtained, while an extensive analysis for the effect of λT, Pr and inclination parameter σ was performed on the flow. Positions of the separation points when the inclination is negative (σ < 0) as a function of Pr and λT were recovered.