Potential Energy in Vertical Natural Convection

Abstract

We study the role of potential energy using the mechanical energy framework for vertical natural convection (VC), which is a buoyancy driven flow between differentially heated vertical walls. The Rayleigh numbers range from 105 to 109 and the Prandtl number is set at 0.709. Guided by the framework for VC, we compare the rate of conversion from potential energy to kinetic energy with that for Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC). The rate of conversion driven by vertical buoyancy flux are comparable for both VC and RBC at matched Rayleigh numbers. However, the turbulent production rate as well as turbulent dissipation rate are higher for VC than for RBC at matched Rayleigh numbers, which suggest ..