Rayleigh-Benard instability triggers the onset of convection in horizontal fluid layers that are heated from below. Such layers are found in the glazing stacks of horizontal solar collectors.  Studies we have done in this area address the onset of convection in two or more thermally coupled layers, both with and without the dampening influence of thermal radiation. This work was initiated at at UCLA and continued at UCSD and MIT.

Arrays of horizontal fluid layers thermally coupled by conducting midlayers.

Publications

J.H. Lienhard V, “Thermal radiation in Rayleigh-Benard instability,” Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 112, No. 1, 1990, pp.100-110. (PDF file)

J.H. Lienhard V, “An improved approach to conductive boundary conditions for the Rayleigh-Benard instability,” Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 109, No. 2, 1987, pp.378-387. (PDF file)

J.H. Lienhard V and I. Catton, “Heat transfer across a two fluid layer region,” Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 108, No. 1, 1986, pp.198-205.

I. Catton and J.H. Lienhard V, “Thermal stability of two fluid layers separated by a solid interlayer of finite thickness and thermal conductivity,” Journal of Heat Transfer, Vol. 106, No. 1, 1984, pp.13-17.