Department of Chemical

Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman

Dimensional Analysis
ChE 131 – Transport Processes

Reference:
Bird, R.B., Stewart, W.E., and Lightfoot, E.N. (2007). Transport Phenomena,
2nd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Foust, A.S., Wenzel, L.A., Clump, C.W., Maus, L., Andersen, L.B. (1980).
Principles of Unit Operations. 2nd Ed. Singapore: John Wiley and Sons.
Welty, J.R., Wicks, C. E., Wilson, R. E., Fundamentals of Momentum, Heat,
and Mass Transfer. 5th ed. USA. John Wiley and Sons.
 Motivation

 Mechanism-Ratio Analysis

 Dimensional Analysis of Equation of Change

 Motivation
Motivation  Recall:
Mechanism-Ratio  From the equations of motion, we used dimensional
Analysis
analysis to introduce friction factor, which is an
Dimensional important design parameter.
Analysis of
Equation of
 We obtained several dimensionless parameters
Change that characterize fluid flow.

 In the same manner,

 We’ll use dimensional analysis, to derive important
dimensionless parameters that characterize non-
isothermal flow systems.
 In particular, we want to introduce heat transfer
coefficient correlations.
 Solution
Motivation  Thermal conductivities are easy to determine by
Mechanism-Ratio calorimetric experiments, but heat transfer
Analysis coefficients require the analysis of transfer
Dimensional mechanisms.
Analysis of
Equation of  By mechanism-ratio analysis, it is possible to
Change
show the physical meaning of the heat transfer
coefficient.
 Mechanism-Ratio Analysis
Motivation  For flow systems in which energy in the form of
Mechanism- heat is being transferred (non-isothermal), four
Ratio Analysis mechanisms contribute to the process:
Dimensional
Analysis of 1. Heat transport by conduction
Equation of
Change 2. Heat transport by convection

3. Momentum transfer by conduction

4. Momentum transfer by convection

 Mechanism-Ratio Analysis
Motivation  First, consider the ratio
Mechanism-
Ratio Analysis ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Dimensional ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Analysis of
Equation of Convection may be represented by ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
Change 𝜕 𝑇−𝑇𝑠 |𝑦=0
while conduction is represented by −𝑘𝐴 .
𝜕𝑦
The ratio then becomes
ℎ𝐴(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
𝜕 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠 |𝑦=0
−𝑘𝐴
𝜕𝑦
 Mechanism-Ration Analysis
Motivation  Rearranging the equation gives,
Mechanism-
Ratio Analysis h 𝜕 𝑇−𝑇𝑠 |𝑦=0
=
k 𝑇𝑠 −𝑇∞
Dimensional
Analysis of  To make this dimensionless, we multiply it with a
Equation of
Change length parameter,
hL 𝜕 𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠 |𝑦=0
=
k (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )/𝐿

 This ratio is referred to as the Nusselt number.

ℎ𝐿
≡ 𝑁𝑢
𝑘
 Dimensionless Groups

Dim. Group Ratio Equation

Nusselt, Nu heat convection /ℎ𝐿
heat
≡conduction
𝑁𝑢 ℎ𝐿
𝑘 𝑘

 ratio of conductive thermal resistance to the convective

thermal resistance of the fluid
 written in a manner similar to that for the Biot modulus but the
thermal conductivity is that of the fluid as opposed to that of
the solid, which is the case in the evaluation of the Biot
modulus
 Dimensional Analysis
Motivation  More dimensionless groups arises from the
Mechanism-Ratio equations of change, and the boundary
Analysis conditions
Dimensional
Analysis of  Energy transport is described by differential
Equation of equations of change.
Change
The convenient
𝐷𝑇
𝜌𝐶𝑝 = − 𝛻 ∙ 𝑞 − 𝜏: 𝛻𝒗 form of the
𝐷𝑡 Energy Equation.

 If we use Fourier’s law and Newton’s law

𝐷𝑇
𝜌𝐶𝑝 = 𝑘𝛻 2 𝑇 + 𝜇Φ𝑣
𝐷𝑡
Dissipation function
 Dimensional Analysis
Motivation  We then introduce dimensionless quantities from
Mechanism-Ratio characteristic quantities.
Analysis

Dimensional
Analysis of
Equation of
Change

 lo and vo are reference quantities for the length

and the velocity.
 Dimensional Analysis
Motivation  In terms of the dimensionless variables, the
Mechanism-Ratio equations of change becomes
Analysis

Dimensional 𝐷𝑇 𝑘 𝜇𝑣𝑜
Analysis of = 2
𝛻 𝑇+ Φ𝑣
Equation of 𝐷𝑡 𝑙𝑜 𝑣𝑜 𝜌𝐶𝑝 𝑙𝑜 𝜌𝐶𝑝 𝑇1 − 𝑇𝑜
Change

 Depending on the choice of the characteristic

velocity, different dimensionless groups appear.
 Dimensional Analysis
Motivation  For forced convection and forced-plus-free
Mechanism-Ratio convection, the choice for v0 is usually the
Analysis average velocity in the system. In that case,
Dimensional
Analysis of
Equation of
𝑘 𝜇 𝑘 1 1
Change
= = =
𝑙𝑜 𝑣𝑜 𝐶𝑝 𝑙𝑜 𝑣𝑜 𝜌 𝜇𝐶𝑝 RePr Pe

𝜇𝑣𝑜 𝜇 𝑘 𝜇𝑣𝑜2 Br
= =
𝑙𝑜 𝜌𝐶𝑝 𝑇1 − 𝑇𝑜 𝑙𝑜 𝑣𝑜 𝜌 𝜇𝐶𝑝 𝑘 𝑇1 − 𝑇𝑜 RePr
 Dimensionless Groups
 Useful dimensionless groups in heat transfer
Dim. Group Ratio Equation
molecular diffusivity of momentum / 𝑐𝑃 𝜇
Prandtl, Pr
molecular diffusivity of heat 𝑘
Brinkman, Br heat from viscous dissipation / heat 𝜇𝑣𝑜2
conduction 𝑘 𝑇1 − 𝑇𝑜
Peclet, Pe Heat convection / 𝑙𝑜 𝑣𝑜 𝐶𝑝
heat conduction k
 Correlations for Heat Transfer Coefficients:

 Consider a fluid flowing in a closed conduit at some average

velocity with a temperature difference existing between the
fluid and the tube wall. The important variables and their
symbols are listed below.
Correlations for Heat Transfer Coefficients:

Dittus-Boelter Equation 𝑁𝑢 = 0.023𝑅𝑒 0.8 𝑃𝑟 𝑛

(for forced convection/ n = 0.4 when fluid is heated

turbulent, horizontal tubes) n = 0.3 when fluid is cooled

Sieder-Tate Equation 𝑁𝑢 = 0.023𝑅𝑒 0.8 𝑃𝑟1/3 𝜙𝑣

0.14
(for forced convection/ turbulent, 𝜇
𝜙𝑣 =
Re > 10000 & 0.5 < Pr < 100) 𝜇𝑤
 Exercise
An organic liquid enters a 0.834-in. ID horizontal steel
tube, 3.5 ft long, at a rate of 5000 lb/hr. You are given
that the specific heat, thermal conductivity, and viscosity
of the liquid is 0.565 Btu/lb-°F, 0.0647 Btu/hr-ft-°F, and
0.59 lb/ft-hr, respectively. All these properties are
assumed constant. If the liquid is being cooled,
determine the inside-tube heat transfer coefficient using
the Dittus-Boelter Equation.