The stability of a steady, axisymmetric, laminar, primary flow composed of two fluids flowing concentrically in a straight circular tube is investigated by the method of small perturbations. Both asymmetric and axisymmetric disturbances to the primary flow are considered. It is demonstrated that, regardless of the size of the Reynolds number, no situations are encountered for which the primary flow is stable to both types of disturbances, simultaneously. The primary cause of instability is found to be the difference in viscosities of the two fluids.

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Analytical and experimental work has been undertaken to analyze thermal conduction and natural convection heat losses in annular receiver geometries. Techniques studied for reducing conduction heat loss include evacuation of the annulus gas, oversizing of the annular space while maintaining slight vacuum levels, and use of gases other than air in the annular space. For the geometry considered, total heat loss reductions of 10 percent to 50 percent may be obtained depending on the means by which the conduction heat loss is limited. In addition, natural convection studies considering the effects of nonuniform temperature distributions and eccentric cylinders are discussed. The numerical analysis performed indicates that highly nonuniform temperature distributions are required to appreciably affect the natural convection process between concentric cylinders and that rather large eccentricities cause only a slight increase in natural convection heat transfer.

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