Experimental study of interzonal natural convection through an aperture

Abstract

The work was concerned with measuring natural convection through an aperture between two zones in an environmental chamber. Airflow rates between the two zones were measured using a tracer-gas decay technique, and the temperature at the centre of each zone was measured using thermocouples. Zone 1 was heated to various temperatures in the range 18-38°C using thermostatically controlled heaters. Zone 2 was unheated. A multipoint sampling unit was used to collect a tracer-gas sample from each zone. The concentration of SF6 tracer was measured using an infra-red gas analyzer. The heat and mass flow rates between the two zones were calculated from the tracer-gas concentrations and temperature differences. Results were compared with values predicted by existing algorithms for two-zone enclosures. The mass flow rate through the aperture was found to be a function of the temperature difference between the two zones.