Experimental investigation of horizontal convection

Fluid circulation driven by buoyancy forces due to a thermal gradient on a horizontal boundary, known as horizontal convection, is experimentally studied. For that purpose, a methacrylate box with inner dimensions 300x150x150 mm3 (LxWxH) whose bottom is composed by a heat exchanger and a printed circuit board is lled with water. The heat exchanger provides a uniform temperature boundary condition while the printed circuit board provides a boundary condition of uniform heat fl ux input. The lateral walls and top cover are adiabatic. Moreover, infrared thermography is used together with the heated thin foil sensor technique in order to visualize the results. Experimental set-up components and process to carry the tests are explained in detail. Results are presented as 2D Nusselt number maps, showing three differentiated stages of the transient regime of the fluid circulation and the different results obtained under tested ranges of the boundary conditions (RaF = [1.3. 10 11 -- 1.1.10 12] at Pr = 7 based on initial conditions and aspect ratio of the domain A = 0.5). Uncertainties of the results are calculated so that coherent values are ensured. Furthermore, possible future work to be done in this particular thermodynamic-fl uid field and conclusions are reported.Ingeniería Aeroespacia