Numerical simulation for the Piston effect and thermal diffusion observed in supercritical nitrogen Original Research Article

Heat transport mechanism in supercritical nitrogen near the pseudo-critical line is investigated using a two-dimensional calculation model that is a rectangular cavity with a horizontal heated wall located at the top. The thermo-fluid dynamics equations are solved directly using the finite difference method. The calculation results qualitatively agree with the experimental results, which were obtained using a laser holography interferometer. It is verified that thermal energy is propagated by the Piston effect around the pseudo-critical line.