Thermoconvective instability in a bounded vertical cylinder with internal heat generation

The onset of thermal convection of a fluid confined completely in a finite vertical cylinder with internal heat sourer is examined by using the linear stability analysis. The Galerkin method is applied to solve the perturbati on equations. The stability criteria for various aspect ratios are determin ed in terms of the Rayleigh number and a nondimensional parameter relative to the heat source. The effects of the aspect ratio and the sidewall therma l boundary conditions on the stability as well as the structure of the conv ective roll are investigated. In the limiting cases, the results compare we ll with the literature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.