Flow prediction in upwelling deep seawater - The perpetual salt fountain

A model has been developed to predict the induced flow and heat transfer in upwelling deep water using the perpetual salt fountain. The upwelling flow of the seawater is induced by the buoyancy force, which is driven by simultaneous temperature and salinity differences. Both laminar and turbulent flow models are considered in conjunction with the analysis of upwelling velocity, temperature and density distributions. The theoretical solutions for laminar natural convection in vertical ducts are used to verify the computational model and validate the numerical code. A comparison of numerical prediction and experimental data obtained in the upper ocean in the region of Mariana Trench (Pacific Ocean) is presented and the reasonable agreement between the numerical prediction by the turbulent model and the experimental results is encouraging. Future research should aim to determine the complete nature of the flow and heat transfer in upwelling deep water using the perpetual salt fountain.