Diffusion-driven flows due to an obstruction layer

With the confirmation of experiments, two new concepts about diffusion-driven flow are discussed and demonstrated. Although Phillips- Wunsch flow has been shown to exist along sloping boundaries, it is shown here that even an obstruction layer with only vertical walls produces a type of diffusion-driven flow. This is demonstrated through the execution of a dye test. Additionally, the influence that impermeable obstructions have on the density evolution of a stratified fluid is developed theoretically and demonstrated experimentally. With the use of two different types of obstruction layers, the theory is shown to accurately predict the density evolution.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Allshouse, Michael R

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomas Peacock.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45458

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/45458