MECH4411 Heat Transfer

Part 2 – Convective heat transfer

Lecture Note 7
Free convection in enclosed spaces

1
Objectives
1. Free convection in enclosed spaces (vertical plates, horizontal plates)

2. General empirical relations for free convection in enclosed spaces

3. Evacuated (low-density) space

4. Combined free and forced convection (vertical tubes, horizontal tubes)

2
Free convection in enclosed spaces
We will consider heat transfer of fluids in two types of enclosed spaces between either two
vertical plates or two horizontal plates.

The key physical parameters for the problems are:

- Separation distance between the plate: δ
- Temperature difference between the plate: ∆T = T! − T"
- Length of the plate: L
T! + T"
- Film temperature: T% =
2
- Prandtl number: Pr
gρ " β∆Tδ$
- Grashof number: Gr# =
μ"
hδ
- Nusselt number: Nu# =
k
- Effective apparent thermal conductivity: k& = k Nu# where k& /k = 1 for pure conduction 3
Free convection in two vertical plates
Under constant-heat-flux conditions, the empirical correlations obtained were:
+).$)
L
Nu# = 0.42 Gr# Pr !/( Pr).)!"
δ
q, = constant
10( < Gr# Pr < 10-
for
1 < Gr# Pr < 20,000
10 < L/δ < 40
or
Nu# = 0.46 Gr# Pr !/$

q, = constant
10. < Gr# Pr < 10/
for
1 < Pr < 20
1 < L/δ < 40
Parameters are evaluated at the film temperature T% .
The heat flux is calculated as
q k T! − T"
= q, = h T! − T" = Nu# T! − T" = k& 4
A δ δ
Free convection in two horizontal plates
There are two different cases for heat transfer between two horizontal plates based on whether
the upper or the lower plate has a higher temperature.

Case 1: upper plate has a higher temperature

The lower-density fluid is above the higher-density fluid and no convection currents will be
experienced. The heat transfer across the space will be by conduction alone and Nu# = 1.

Case 2: lower plate has a higher temperature

Gr# < 1700, pure conduction is observed, Nu# = 1.
1700 < Gr# < 50,000, a pattern of hexagonal cells is formed (i.e., Bernard cells).
Gr# > 50,000, turbulence begins and the cellular patterns are destroyed.

5
Benard-cell pattern in enclosed fluid layer heated from below
Rayleigh-Bernard convection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX9NpXH7UrM

6
General empirical relation for enclosed space
Experimental results for free convection in enclosures are not always in agreement, but we can express them in
a general form as
1
k& 0
L
Nu# = = C Gr# Pr
k δ

The constant C, n and m are given by table 1 (next slide).

7
 Correlation constants for empirical relation
General empirical relation Table 1: Correlation constant for empirical relations for free convection in enclosures
for enclosed space:
1
k& 0
L
Nu# = = C Gr# Pr
k δ

8
Evacuated (low-density) space
From table 1, we have seen that when the product Gr# Pr < 2000, the fluid layer behaves as if pure conduction
were involved and k& /k → 1.0. This means that the free-convection flow velocities are small.

A small value of Gr# can result from either lowering the fluid pressure (density) or by reducing the spacing δ.

If the pressure of a gas is reduced sufficiently (a low-density problem), the situation is influenced by the mean
free path of the molecules and by individual molecular impacts.

The mean free path λ is the distance a molecule travels, on the average, between collisions. An approximate
relation for the mean free path of air molecules is given by
T
λ = 2.27 × 10 +2
p
More details about heat transfer in low-density space can be found in section 7-12 in the reference book.

9
Combined free and forced convection
A number of practical situations involve convection heat transfer that is neither “forced” nor “free” in nature.
The circumstances arise when a fluid is forced over a heated surface at a rather low velocity. The heat transfer
occurs due to both the forced-flow velocity and the convective velocity generated by the buoyancy forces.

In particular, we consider the case for vertical and horizontal tubes.

A general criterion for free-convection effects dominating over the forced-convection is given by
Gr gρ " β T, − T3 d$
> 10 where Gr = Pr
Re" μ"
Brown and Gauvin formula for the mixed-convection, laminar flow region of horizontal tubes:
μ3 ).!( !/$ (/$
!/$
Nu = 1.75 Gz + 0.012 Gz Gr
μ,
where the Graetz number is calculated as
d
Gz = RePr
L
All properties are evaluated at the film temperature, except μ3 and μ, which are evaluated at
the bulk temperature of the flow and the wall temperature of the tube, respectively.

10
 The regimes for combined convection
Fig. 1: Free, forced, and mixed convection for vertical tubes Fig. 2: Free, forced, and mixed convection for horizontal tubes

Aiding flow: the forced- and free-convection currents are in the same direction The data for the two figures are applicable for
Opposing flow: the forced- and free-convection currents are in the opposite direction +"
d
10 < Pr <1
UWT: uniform wall temperature UHF: uniform heat flux L
11
Example 1: Heat transfer across vertical air gap
Air at atmospheric pressure is contained between two 0.5-m-square vertical plates separated by a distance of
15 mm. The temperatures of the plates are 100°C and 40°C, respectively. Calculate the free-convection heat
transfer across the air space.
Solution:
100 + 40 0.5 m
The film temperature between the plate is T% = = 70°C = 343 K T1 = 100°C T2 = 40°C
2
The properties of air at T% = 343 K is, 0.5 m
μ = 2.043 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s, k = 0.0295 W/m∙°C, Pr = 0.7,
1 p 1.0132×10 2
β= = 2.915 × 10 +$ K−1, ρ= = = 1.029 kg/m3 15mm
T% RT (287)(343)
gρ " βΔTδ$ 9.8 1.029 " 2.915 × 10 +$ 100 − 40 15 × 10 +$ $ (
Gr# Pr = Pr = 0.7 = 1.027× 10
μ" 2.043 × 10 +2 "
We may now use general empirical relation to calculate the effective thermal conductivity, with L = 0.5 m and
δ = 0.015 m. The constants for gas in vertical plates are taken from Table 1 (C = 0.197, n = 1/4, and m = -1/9):
1 +!//
k& L 0.5
= C Gr# Pr 0 = 0.197 1.027× 10 ( !/( = 1.343 k& = (1.343)(0.0295) = 0.0396 W/m∙°C
k δ 0.015
The heat transfer is
k& A T! − T" 0.0396 0.5 " 100 − 40 12
q= = = 39.62 W
δ 0.015
Example 2: Heat transfer across horizontal air gap
Two horizontal plates 20 cm on a side are separated by a distance of 1 cm with air at 1 atm in the space. The
temperatures of the plates are 100°C for the lower and 40°C for the upper plate. Calculate the heat transfer
across the air space.
Solution:
The film temperature and air properties are the same as example 1:
T% = 343 K, μ = 2.043 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s, k = 0.0295 W/m∙°C, Pr = 0.7, β = 2.915 × 10 +$ K−1, ρ = 1.029 kg/m3

The Gr# Pr product is evaluated on the basis of the separating distance, so we have
gρ " βΔTδ$ 9.8 1.029 " 2.915 × 10 +$ 100 − 40 0.01 $
Gr# Pr = Pr = 0.7 = 3043
μ" 2.043 × 10 +2 "
Consulting Table 1 for gas in horizontal plates, we find C = 0.059, n = 0.4, and m = 0 so that
1 )
k& 0
L ).(
0.2 T2 = 40°C
= C Gr# Pr = 0.059 3043 =1.46
k δ 0.01 T1 = 100°C
k& = (1.46)(0.0295) = 0.0431 W/m∙°C 1 cm

k& A T! − T" 0.0431 0.2 " 100 − 40

q= = = 10.34 W
δ 0.01
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Example 3: Heat transfer across water layer
Two 50-cm horizontal square plates are separated by a distance of 1 cm. The lower plate is maintained at a
constant temperature of 100°F and the upper plate is constant at 80°F. Water at atmospheric pressure
occupies the space between the plates. Calculate the heat lost by the lower plate.
Solution:
80 + 100 T2 = 80°F
The film temperature is T% = = 90°F T1 = 100°F
2
The properties of air at T% = 90°F is, 1 cm
gβρ " c4
k = 0.623 W/m∙°C, = 2.48 × 10!) m3∙°C +!
μk
gβρ " c4 $ Note that:
Gr# Pr = δ ΔT = 2.48 × 10!) (0.01) $ 100 − 80 5/9 = 2.76 × 10 2 T(°C) = (T(°F) - 32) × 5/9
μk
Consulting Table 1 for liquid in horizontal plates, we find C = 0.13, n = 0.3, and m = 0 so that
1 )
k& 0
L 0.2
= C Gr# Pr = 0.13 2.76× 10 2 ).$ = 5.57
k δ 0.01
k& = (5.57)(0.623) = 3.47 W/m∙°C
k& A T! − T" 3.47 0.5 " 100 − 80 5/9
q= = = 964 W
δ 0.01 14
Example 4: Reduction of convection in air gap
A vertical air gap between two glass plates is to be evacuated so that the convective currents are essentially
eliminated, that is, the air behaves as a pure conductor. For air at a mean temperature of 300 K and a
temperature difference of 20°C, calculate the vacuum necessary for glass spacings of 1 and 2 cm.
Solution:
Consulting Table 1, we find that for gases, a value of Gr# Pr < 2000 is necessary to reduce the system to one of
pure conduction. At 300 K the properties of air are
μ = 1.846 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s, k = 0.02624 W/m∙°C, Pr = 0.7,
1 p p
β= = 3.33 × 10 +$ K−1, ρ= =
T% RT (287)(300)

To vacuum the air gap, we need

gρ " βΔTδ$ 9.8 3.33 × 10 +$ 20 p" δ$ " δ$ = 7773 Pa2 m3
Gr# Pr = Pr = 0.7 = 2000 → p
μ" (287) " (300) " 1.846 × 10 +2 "
Therefore, for a plate spacing of δ = 1 cm we have
p = 7773 / 0.01 $ !/" = 88200 Pa vacuum = patm − p = 101320 − 88200 = 13120 Pa.

For a plate spacing of δ = 2 cm we have

p = 7773 / 0.02 $ !/"
= 31190 Pa vacuum = patm − p = 101320 − 31190 = 70130 Pa. 15
Example 5: Combined Free and Forced Convection with Air
Air at 1 atm and 27°C is forced through a horizontal 25-mm-diameter tube at an average velocity of 30 cm/s.
The tube wall is maintained at a constant temperature of 140°C. Calculate the heat-transfer coefficient for this
situation if the tube is 0.4 m long.
Solution: 0.4 m
140 + 27
The film temperature is T% = = 83.5°C = 356.5 K 25 mm
2 Tw = 140°C
μ% = 2.102 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s, k% = 0.0305 W/m∙°C, Pr = 0.695,
1 p 1.0132 × 10 2 1 atm. Tb = 27°C, 30 m/s
β= = 2.8 × 10 +$ K−1, ρ% = = = 0.966 kg/m3
T% RT (287)(356.5)
At the wall temperature T, = 140°C = 413 K, μ, = 2.337 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s.
Consider the bulk temperature as T3 = 27°C = 300 K, μ3 = 1.8462 × 10 +2 kg/m∙s.
The significant parameters are calculated as
ρud (0.99)(0.3)(0.025)
Re5 = = = 3.43
μ 2.102 × 10 −5
gρ " β T, − T3 d$ 9.8 0.99 " 2.805 × 10 +$ 140 − 27 0.025 $
Gr Pr = Pr = = 1.007 × 10 2
μ" 2.102 × 10 +2 "
d 0.025
GrPr = 1.077×10 2 0.695 = 4677 16
L 0.4
Example 5: Combined Free and Forced Convection with Air
According to Figure 2, the mixed-convection-flow regime is encountered. We use the Brown and Gauvin formula.
The Graetz number is calculated as
d 0.025
Gz = RePr = 353 0.0695 = 15.33
L 0.4
μ3 ).!(
!/$ (/$ !/$
Nu = 1.75 Gz + 0.012 Gz Gr
μ,
).!(
1.8462 2 !/$ (/$
!/$
= 1.75 15.33 + 0.012 15.33 1.077×10 = 7.70
2.337
The average heat-transfer coefficient is then calculated as
k (0.0305)(7.70)
h* = Nu = = 9.40 W/m2∙°C
d 0.025
It is interesting to compare this value with that which would be obtained for strictly laminar forced convection
in lecture note 4. The Sieder-Tate relation applies, so that
!/$
!/$
d μ% ).!( !/$
μ% ).!(
!/$
μ% ).!(
Nu =1.86 Re5 Pr = 1.86 Gz = 1.86 15.33 = 4.55
L μw μw μw
k (4.55)(0.0305)
h* = Nu = = 5.55 W/m2∙°C
d 0.025
17
There would be an error of −41 percent if the calculation were made by using laminar forced convection.