Effect of cooling temperature of electrodes on Joule-heating flow in cubic cavity

• We use ultrasound technique to observe the Joule-heating flow in a cubic cavity.
• The effect of electrode cooling temperature is investigated.
• A spectrum analysis of temperature and velocity of chaotic flow is reported.
• The applicability of Ultrasound technique is confirmed by using an optical method.
• A GSMAC-FEM is used as a trial application for prediction of Joule-heating flow.

The effect of cooling condition of electrode plates on chaotic Joule-heating flow behavior in a cubic cavity has been experimentally investigated. Two electrode plates are immersed in the fluid body and placed on the opposing side wall. They are connected to an AC power source for internal volumetric ‘Joule-heating’ in the cavity. This chaotic flow which induced by Joule heating is observed within whole the cavity. The chaotic flow is investigated quantitatively by Ultrasonic Velocity Profiling (UVP) method. The chaotic flow behavior is also observed by using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) method to understand the effect of temperature distribution in this condition. The chaotic flow behavior generates fluctuations of temperature and velocity. As a result, cooling condition of electrode plates has a strong effect on the Joule-heating flow behavior that the vortex area occurred in the upper part of cavity. On the other hand, in the adiabatic condition, unstable flow appeared in whole cavity. In additional, velocity profiles are analyzed by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method about the frequencies of fluctuations. Furthermore, a numerical analysis using Finite Element Method, GSMAC-FEM, is also examined the Joule-heating flow behavior for cubic cavity.