Convection:

The heat transfer due to the movement of molecules i.e. heat energy that transfers between a
solid and a moving fluid when there is a temperature difference between them, is known as
convection heat transfer.
History of convection:
Isaac Newton is widely credited with the following statement of
convective heat transfer coefficient:
Q = hA( Tsur - Tsurr )
(i)
Which is also known as Newton law of cooling. Where Q is the rate at
which heat is transferred, h is the coefficient of heat transfer, A is the
surface area, Tsur is the surface temperature and Tsurr is the temperature
of the surroundings.
Types of convection:
The Natural Convection is mainly because of the difference in
temperature which varies the buoyancy and density of the fluid. The
hotter particles which are less dense will rise above whereas the cooler
particles with heavier density will fall down, forming the convection currents. The emission of
smoke from fire is a daily life example of natural convection. The density of smoke is less than
air and thus it rises. Same is the case with air balloons which is lifted up by hotter air and the
boiling of water in which hot water rises up while the cold water takes its place.
We know that dependency of natural convection mainly depends on the physical constants like
density, k, Cp, viscosity and the thermal expansion which is 1/T for gases by Charles Law. The
rates of heat transfer are expressed as hc and hs, coefficient of convection heat transfer and
general surface coefficient respectively.
Heat transfer can be described In terms of the factors which is a group of dimensionless
numbers named on the workers of this field.
Nusselt Number (Nu) = (hcD/k)
Prandtl Number (Pr) = (cp/k)
Grashof Number (Gr) = (D32gT/2)
Assuming these ratios in relation by a simple function of power the most general equation for
natural convection can be written as:

L/ D n
Gr m
P r k
( N u )=K

(ii)

Where K, k, m, n are evaluated experimentally under various conditions.

Natural Convection Equations:
(1) Natural Convection about vertical cylinders and planes:
0.25

Pr . Gr

4
9
for 1 0 < ( Pr . Gr ) <1 0
( N u )=0.53

0.33

Pr . Gr

9
12
for 1 0 < ( Pr .Gr ) <1 0
( N u )=0.12

(1)

(2)

These equations can be approximated for air respectively by

T / L0.25
hc =1.3

(3)

T 0.25
hc =1.8

(4)

(2) Natural convection about horizontal cylinders:

Pr . Gr 0.25 for 1 03 < ( Pr .Gr ) <1 09

( N u ) =0.5 4

(5)

For air approximated as

T / D 0.25
hc =1.3

And

T 0.33
hc =1.8

for 1 0 4 < ( Pr . Gr ) <1 09

for 1 0 9< ( Pr .Gr ) <1 012

(3) Natural convection about horizontal planes:

Pr . Gr 0.25 for 1 03 < ( Pr .Gr ) <1 09

( N u ) =0.54

(6)

For air approximated as

T / L0.25
hc =1.3

And

T 0.33
hc =1.8

for 1 0 < ( Pr . Gr ) <1 0

12

for 1 0 < ( Pr .Gr ) <1 0

The Forced Convection occurs due to the fluid movement over the solid by using external
devices such as fans and pumps. The forced convection is generally for the purpose of
increasing the rate of heat transfer. Radiator system in a car and the variation of temperature of
body parts by circulating blood are some known examples.
Forced Convection Equations:
(1) Heating and cooling inside tubes, generally fluid foods being pumped through pipes

N
( u)=4 ,for the moderate temperature difference

0.8 ( Pr ) for >2100( Pr )> 0.5

( N u )=0.023

(7)

(8)

For more viscous fluids such as oils and syrups, the viscosity effect can be allowed, for (Re) >
10,000, by using the equation:
0.33

Pr
0.8
/ s 0.14
( N u ) =0.027

(9)

(2) Heating or cooling over plane surfaces

0.33

Pr

for >2 10
0.8

( N u )=0.36

(10)

For the flow of air over flat surfaces simplified equations are:

hc =5.7+ 3.9 v for v< 5 m/ s

(11)

hc =7.4 v 0.8 for 5< v <30 m/s

(12)

(3) Heating and cooling outside tubes

m

Pr
n

( N u ) =K

(13)

For gases and liquids at high or moderate Reynolds numbers:

o .3

Pr
0.6

( N u ) =0.26

(14)

For liquids at low Reynolds numbers, 1<(Re)<200:

Pr o .3
0.43
( N u ) =0.86

(15)

Examples from daily life:

Ice Melting Heat travels from high temperature air to the low temperature ice causing the ice
to melt.
Heat Exchanger In the industrial heat exchangers, the heat from the higher temperature fluid
is transferred to the lower temperature fluid.
Stack Effect It is also known as chimney effect, which is actually the movement of air due to
buoyancy. Where the buoyancy is the variation of densities between the inside and outside air.
Oceanic Circulation The hot water near the equator mingles toward the poles and cooler water
around the poles moves to equator.