Buoyancy-induced two-dimensional vertical flows in a thermally stratified environment (Q793612)

A numerical study of the vertical two-dimensional natural convection flow over a heated vertical surface and that in a thermal plume, the ambient medium being stably stratified due to a temperature increase with height, is carrid out. Employing finite difference techniques, these buoyancy- induced flows are studied at various stratification levels, ambient temperature distributions and at two Prandtl numbers, 6.7 and 0.7, which apply for water and air at normal temperatures. The numerical scheme is outlined and its accuracy and convergence discussed. The results are found to be in good agreement with earlier studies of natural convection flows in thermally stratified media.