using a definition of thermal stratification that is far too specific
I’m using the textbook definition of which there are at-least three distinct layers that prevent mixing due to distinctly separate convection currents separated by the thermocline layer.
While the top has a considerable difference of ~18F at 95-113F, the rest is pretty evenly 77-86F.
By you’re less strict definition, after applying conventional bottom-up heating, Thermal stratification would also occur in this 2 layer form just by letting it sit and settle for a bit as the hotter atoms rise to the top due to their lower density creating a distinct hotter top with the rest holding a pretty even temp.
Matter of fact, the steam is just moister in the air combining with the hottest water atoms that are yeeting themselves out from the surface as vapor.
Search the literature for thermal stratification. There are many contexts where it is used outside of lakes and other large bodies of water, many of which do not consist of three distinct layers. Hell, the paper I cited SPECIFICALLY refers to the temperature gradient in the microwaved glass as “stratification”.
If you can’t understand the use of a term outside your specific area of expertise then thats honestly a you problem and that’s all I can say on that.
If the heating methods were as similar as you say, there wouldn’t be hundreds of publications accepted to various journals across the past two decades investigating the problem where microwaves produce a strong temperature gradient between the top and bottom of a body of liquid. It’s a well known process control problem.
I guess this does count as a more gradual example of thermal stratification where 35C is the thermocline layer.
However, by this definition, thermal stratification would still occur after applying conventional bottom-up heating by letting it sit and settle for some time allowing gravity to sort by density resulting in a very similar stable thermal stratification pattern.
You’d have to be constantly mixing or never take of the heat source to prevent this stable thermal stratification pattern from occurring.
I don’t think that is the case. A stratified fluid, in the absence of continued energy exchange with the outside environment, will eventually reach a homogenous temperature distribution due to diffusion.
That said, even if you are were correct, in the context of brewing tea we would only have a few minutes of brew time in which the stratification would have an impact on the extraction.
will eventually reach a homogenous temperature distribution due to diffusion.
Both would occur at the same time, infact much of the diffusion would be at the surface of the liquid because of the hotter atoms traveling up and it being an easier point of escape than going through the container.
in the context of brewing tea we would only have a few minutes of brew time in which the stratification would have an impact on the extraction.
Would stratification even matter in either case?
You still have to dunk the tea bag in, or pour the liquid, whichever way you do it. The only way I see this effecting tea extraction is if you microwave it with the tea bag included; and even then I’ve never noticed the difference.
I’m using the textbook definition of which there are at-least three distinct layers that prevent mixing due to distinctly separate convection currents separated by the thermocline layer.
While the top has a considerable difference of ~18F at 95-113F, the rest is pretty evenly 77-86F.
By you’re less strict definition, after applying conventional bottom-up heating, Thermal stratification would also occur in this 2 layer form just by letting it sit and settle for a bit as the hotter atoms rise to the top due to their lower density creating a distinct hotter top with the rest holding a pretty even temp.
Matter of fact, the steam is just moister in the air combining with the hottest water atoms that are yeeting themselves out from the surface as vapor.
Search the literature for thermal stratification. There are many contexts where it is used outside of lakes and other large bodies of water, many of which do not consist of three distinct layers. Hell, the paper I cited SPECIFICALLY refers to the temperature gradient in the microwaved glass as “stratification”.
If you can’t understand the use of a term outside your specific area of expertise then thats honestly a you problem and that’s all I can say on that.
If the heating methods were as similar as you say, there wouldn’t be hundreds of publications accepted to various journals across the past two decades investigating the problem where microwaves produce a strong temperature gradient between the top and bottom of a body of liquid. It’s a well known process control problem.
I guess this does count as a more gradual example of thermal stratification where 35C is the thermocline layer.
However, by this definition, thermal stratification would still occur after applying conventional bottom-up heating by letting it sit and settle for some time allowing gravity to sort by density resulting in a very similar stable thermal stratification pattern.
You’d have to be constantly mixing or never take of the heat source to prevent this stable thermal stratification pattern from occurring.
I don’t think that is the case. A stratified fluid, in the absence of continued energy exchange with the outside environment, will eventually reach a homogenous temperature distribution due to diffusion.
That said, even if you are were correct, in the context of brewing tea we would only have a few minutes of brew time in which the stratification would have an impact on the extraction.
Both would occur at the same time, infact much of the diffusion would be at the surface of the liquid because of the hotter atoms traveling up and it being an easier point of escape than going through the container.
Would stratification even matter in either case?
You still have to dunk the tea bag in, or pour the liquid, whichever way you do it. The only way I see this effecting tea extraction is if you microwave it with the tea bag included; and even then I’ve never noticed the difference.