Analytical Investigation of Thermal Stratification in the Flow of Fluid in a Cylindrical Pipe

Abstract

Thermal stratification is a phenomenon where a hot layer of fluid flows over a cold layer of fluid due to density difference. This research work investigates the effect of thermal stratification on fluid flow in a horizontal circular pipe. The transient behaviours of fluid flow, velocity and temperature distribution in the pipe were analysed using Olayiwola’s generalized polynomial approximation method (OGPAM). It was found that Grashof’s number increases the velocity of the fluid. It was also observed that Peclet number, Biot number and Eckert number decrease the temperature of the fluid and at later time increase as the values of these parameters increase. The results also show that the thermal stratification parameter reduces the temperature profile.