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Numerical Investigation of Thermal Counterflow of He II Past Cylinders
Cyprien Soulaine1,2, Michel Quintard2, Bertrand Baudouy3
1Stanford University, Energy Resources Engineering, 367 Panama St, Stanford, California 94305-2220, USA.
Abstract:
We investigate numerically, for the first time, the thermal counterflow of superfluid helium past a cylinder by solving with a finite volume method the complete so-called two-fluid model. In agreement with existing experimental results, we obtain symmetrical eddies both up- and downstream of the obstacle. The generation of these eddies is a complex transient phenomenon that involves the friction of the normal fluid component with the solid walls and the mutual friction between the superfluid and normal components. Implications for flow in a more realistic porous medium are also investigated.
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