A numerical study of the heat transfer through a fluid layer with recirculating flow between concentric and eccentric spheres

A numerical study has been made of the heat transfer through a fluid layer with recirculating flow. The outer fluid surface was assumed to be spherical, while the inner surface consisted of a sphere concentrically or eccentrically located with respect to the outer spherical surface. The recirculating flow was assumed to be driven by a gas flow creating stress on the fluid's outer surface so that creeping (low Reynolds number) flow developed in its interior. The present study solves the Stokes equation of motion and the convective diffusion equation in bispherical coordinates and presents the streamline and isotherm patterns.