Thermal Modulation Effects on Thermosolutal Convection in a Vertical Bridgman Cavity

The effects of oscillatory heating on thermosolutal convection in a cavity heated from below are investigated and discussed. The transient Navier- Stokes equations coupled with heat and mass balances are solved numerically by using a control-volume technique. It is assumed that the interface moves with con- stant growth velocity. The results show the presence of multiple solutions in re- sponse to simultaneous vertical temperature and species concentration gradients applied to the system. In particular, two critical frequencies are identified, one corresponding to low values of the buoyancy ratio N (N 1), accompanied with a decrease of flow intensity reaching a minimal value, the other occurring at higher value of N (N 50), accompanied with flow intensity increase reaching a maximal value.