This paper describes scale-model laboratory experiments with salt-bath simulations, on the flow and stratification in two coupled rooms connected to the exterior by a single vent. The two rooms are connected by two openings one at high-level and one at low-level in the dividing wall. One “forced” room has a buoyancy source, while the outlet vent is in the “unforced” room and is placed in such a way that the buoyancy in the room can potentially drive an exchange flow through it. The buoyancy source is also a source of volume flux, such as cool air pumped into a room from an overhead duct, in which case the outlet is on the floor of the unforced room. We consider the effect of the size of the outlet vent on the resulting stratification in the two rooms. For a small vent only unidirectional flow occurs, and since no ambient fluid enters the rooms, the buoyancy in both rooms becomes uniform and approaches asymptotically to the buoyancy of the source. Above a critical vent size a bidirectional flow is driven through the vent by the buoyancy forces. In this case ambient fluid enters the rooms and a steady state is reached when the buoyancy flux through the outlet vent equals that of the buoyancy source. Both rooms remain stratified with two-layer weak stratification in this case, with a mean density that decreases as the size of the outlet increases. The implications for ventilation are discussed.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Papers
Buoyancy-Driven Flow in Two Interconnected Rooms: Effects of the Exterior Vent Location and Size
R. Tovar,
R. Tovar
Centro de Investigación en Energía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
Search for other works by this author on:
C. A. Campo Garrido,
C. A. Campo Garrido
Centro de Investigación en Energía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
Search for other works by this author on:
P. F. Linden,
P. F. Linden
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University of California San Diego
, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 920903-0411
Search for other works by this author on:
L. P. Thomas
L. P. Thomas
Instituto de Física Arroyo Seco,
Universidad Nacional del Centro
, Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil, Argentina
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Tovar
Centro de Investigación en Energía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
C. A. Campo Garrido
Centro de Investigación en Energía,
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
, Privada Xochicalco s/n, Colonia Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, México
P. F. Linden
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University of California San Diego
, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 920903-0411
L. P. Thomas
Instituto de Física Arroyo Seco,
Universidad Nacional del Centro
, Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil, ArgentinaJ. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2009, 131(2): 021005 (6 pages)
Published Online: March 24, 2009
Article history
Received:
April 10, 2007
Revised:
October 10, 2008
Published:
March 24, 2009
Citation
Tovar, R., Campo Garrido, C. A., Linden, P. F., and Thomas, L. P. (March 24, 2009). "Buoyancy-Driven Flow in Two Interconnected Rooms: Effects of the Exterior Vent Location and Size." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2009; 131(2): 021005. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3097272
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Analysis of Erosion of Surfaces in Falling Particle Concentrating Solar Power
J. Sol. Energy Eng (April 2025)
Related Articles
Displacement of Natural Ventilation in an Enclosure With a Convective/Radiative Heat Source and Nonadiabatic Envelopes
J. Sol. Energy Eng (February,2006)
Natural Ventilation in a Model Room
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl (March,2012)
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Flow Field in the Tip Region of an Axial Ventilation Fan
J. Fluids Eng (March,2005)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Pulsating Supercavities: Occurrence and Behavior
Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Cavitation (CAV2018)
Experimental Investigation of Ventilated Supercavitation Under Unsteady Conditions
Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Cavitation (CAV2018)
Integration of Solar Energy Systems
Handbook of Integrated and Sustainable Buildings Equipment and Systems, Volume I: Energy Systems