Rayleigh-B\'enard thermal convection perturbed by a horizontal heat flux

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to control vertical heat transfer in Rayleigh-Bénard convection by injecting horizontal heat flux, which alters large-scale circulation and enhances vertical heat transfer, supported by numerical and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to modulate heat transfer in Rayleigh-Bénard convection using lateral heat flux injection, expanding understanding of convection control.

Findings

Horizontal heat flux influences large-scale circulation.

Vertical heat transfer rate can be increased.

System response varies near and above convection onset.

Abstract

In Rayleigh-B\'enard convection, it has been found that the amount of heat passing through the fluid has a power law dependence on the imposed temperature difference. Modifying this dependence, either enhancing or reducing the heat transfer capability of fluids, is important in many scientific and practical applications. Here, we present a simple means to control the vertical heat transfer in Rayleigh-B\'enard convection by injecting heat through one lateral side of the fluid domain and extracting the same amount of heat from the opposite side. This horizontal heat flux regulates the large-scale circulation, and increases the heat transfer rate in the vertical direction. Our numerical and theoretical studies demonstrate how a classical Rayleigh-B\'enard convection responds to such a perturbation, when the system is near or well above the onset of convection.