Measurements of heat transport by turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection in rectangular cells of widely varying aspect ratios

High-precision measurements of the Nusselt number Nu for Rayleigh-Bénard (RB) convection have been made in rectangular cells of water (Prandtl number Pr≈5 and 7) with aspect ratios (Γx ,Γy ) varying between (1, 0.3) and (20.8, 6.3). For each cell the data cover a range of a little over a decade of Rayleigh number Ra and for all cells they jointly span the range 6x105<Ra<1011 .The two implicit equations of the Grossmann-Lohse (GL) model together with the empirical finite conductivity correction factor f(X) were fitted to obtain estimates of Nu∞ in the presence of perfectly conducting plates, and the obtained Nu∞ is independent of the cells' aspect ratios. A combination of two-power-law, Nu∞=0.025Ra0.357+0.525Ra0.168 , can be used to describe Nu∞(Ra). The fitted exponents 0.357 and 0.168 are respectively close to the predictions 1/3 and 1/5 of the Ⅱu and Ⅳu regimes of the GL model. Furthermore, a clear transition from the Ⅱu regime to the Ⅳu regime with increasing Ra is revealed.

High-precision measurements of the Nusselt number Nu for Rayleigh-B6nard （RB） convection have been made in rectangular cells of water （Prandtl number Pr ≈ 5 and 7） with aspect ratios （F~, Fy） varying between （1, 0.3） and （20.8, 6.3）. For each cell the data cover a range of a little over a decade of Rayleigh number Ra and for all cells they jointly span the range 6x105 〈 Ra 〈1011. The two implicit equations of the Grossmann-Lohse （GL） model together with the empirical finite conductivity cor- rection factorf（X） were fitted to obtain estimates of Nu∞ in the presence of perfectly conducting plates, and the obtained Nu∞ is independent of the cells＇ aspect ratios. A combination of two-power-law, Nu∞= O.025Ra0.357＋O.525Ra0.168, can be used to de- scribe Nu∞（Ra）. The fitted exponents 0.357 and 0.168 are respectively close to the predictions 1/3 and 1/5 of the 11μ. and 1Vμ re- gimes of the GL model. Furthermore, a clear transition from the II. regime to the IVμ regime with increasing Ra is revealed.