Free Convection of Power-Law Liquids in Partially Filled Containers

Free convection of power-law liquids in partially filled two-dimensional square containers in upright position is investigated numerically, using a finite element method. Different but constant temperatures are imposed on the container’s side walls; its bottom face is insulated while the liquid body’s free surface is subjected to convective cooling. Flow velocity and heat transfer rates at the side walls are seen to decrease, whereas temperature increases, significantly with increasing power-law index n. Increasing n also causes a substantial change in the temperature distribution, while the flow pattern, which consists of two large counter-rotating cells, remains much less affected. The free surface’s cooling rate has a much weaker effect than n on velocity and wall heat flux.