Heat Transfer

Module 6
Convection 2
NATURAL CONVECTION

Course Instructor
G.Nataraj
Assistant Professor (Sr.)
School of Mechanical Engineering
Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

MEE 2005
1
Free convection
Free convection – If the fluid motion is produced due to change in density resulting
from temperature gradients, the mode of heat transfer is said to be free or natural
convection.

Examples:
Heating of rooms by use of radiators
Cooling of transmission lines, electric transformers and rectifiers
Wall of air conditioning house, Condenser of some refrigeration units.

The rate of heat transfer is calculated using the general convection law

Q = h A (Tw – T∞)

Where Q = heat transfer rate in Watts

A = Area in m2
Tw = Surface temperature in oC
T∞ = Fluid temperature in oC
Formula used for Free Convection
1. Film temperature, Tf = (Tw + T∞) / 2,
where Tw– Surface temperature in oC and T∞– Fluid temperature in oC

2. Coefficient of thermal expansion

β = 1/Tf (Tf in K)

3. Nusselt Number, Nu = hL/k,

where h – Heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K
L – Length, m,
k – Thermal conductivity, W/mK

4. Grashof Number for vertical plate, Gr = (g x β x L3 x ∆T) / γ2

(HMT Data book, Pg: 134)
where L – Length of the plate,
∆T – (Tw – T∞)
γ – Kinematic viscosity, m2/s,
β – Coefficient of thermal expansion

5. If GrPr value is less than 109, flow is laminar. If GrPr value is greater than 109, flow is
turbulent.
i.e., Gr Pr < 109, -> Laminar flow
Gr Pr > 109, -> Turbulent flow
Formula used for Free Convection
6. For laminar flow (Vertical plate):
Nusselt Number, Nu = 0.59(Gr Pr)0.25
This expression is valid for, 104 < Gr Pr < 109 (HMT Data book, Pg: 135)

7. For turbulent flow (Vertical plate):

Nusselt Number, Nu = 0.10[Gr Pr]0.333 (HMT Data book, Pg: 135)

8. Heat transfer (Vertical plate) : Q = h A (Tw – T∞)

9. Grashof Number for Horizontal plate: Gr = (g x β x Lc3 x ∆T) / γ2

where, Lc – Characteristic length = W / 2,
W – Width of the plate (HMT Data book, Pg: 135)

10. For horizontal plate, upper surface heated,

Nusselt Number, Nu = 0.54 [Gr Pr]0.25
This expression is valid for, 2 x 104 < Gr Pr < 8 x 106 (HMT Data book, Pg: 135)

Nusselt Number, Nu = 0.15[Gr Pr]0.333

This expression is valid for, 8 x 106 < Gr Pr < 1011 (HMT Data book, Pg: 135)

11. For horizontal plate, lower surface heated,

Nusselt Number, Nu = 0.27[Gr Pr]0.25
This expression is valid for, 105 < Gr Pr < 1011 (HMT Data book, Pg: 136)
 Formula used for Free Convection
12. Heat transfer (Horizontal plate), Q = ( hu + hl) x A x (Tw – T∞)
where hu – Upper surface heated, heat transfer coefficient W/m2K,
hl – Lower surface heated, heat transfer coefficient W/m2K

13. For horizontal cylinder, Nu = C [Gr Pr ]m (HMT Data book, Pg: 137)
GrDPr C m
10-10 to 10-2 0.675 0.058
10-2 to 102 1.02 0.148
102 to 104 0.85 0.188
104 to 107 0.48 0.25
107 to 1012 0.125 0.333

14. For horizontal cylinder,

Heat transfer, Q = h A (Tw – T∞)
where A = π D L

• For sphere, Nusselt Number, Nu = 2 + 0.43 [Gr Pr]0.25 (HMT Data book, Pg: 137)
Heat transfer, Q = h x A x (Tw – T∞)
where A = 4 π r2
Formula used for Free Convection
16. Boundary layer thickness
δx = [3.93 x (Pr)-0.5(0.952 + Pr)0.25 x (Gr)-0.25] (HMT Data book, Pg: 134)

17. Maximum velocity,

umax = 0.766 x γ x (0.952 + Pr)-1/2 x [{g β (Tw – T∞)} / γ2]1/2 x χ1/2
 PROBLEMS

1) A vertical plate of 0.7 m wide and 1.2 m height

maintained at a temperature of 90o C in a room at 30o C.
Calculate the convective heat loss.

2) A horizontal plate of 800 mm long, 70 mm wide is

maintained at a temperature 140o C in a large tank of
full of water at 60o C. Determine the total heat loss from
the plate.