Linear Stability of Taylor-Couette Flows with Axial Heat Buoyancy

The linear stability is studied of flows confined between two concentric cylinders, in which the radial temperature gradient and axial gravity are considered for an incompressible Newtonian fluid. Numerical method based on the Petrov--Galerkin scheme is developed to deal with the buoyancy term in momentum equations and an additional temperature perturbation equation. Computations of the neutral stability curves are performed for different rotation cases. It is found that the flow instability is influenced by both centrifugal and axial shear instabilities, and the two instability mechanisms interact with each other. The outer cylinder rotation plays dual roles of stabilizer and destabilizer under different rotating stages with the inner cylinder at rest. For the heat buoyancy-induced axial flow, spiral structures are found in the instability modes.