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ABSTRACT
Natural Convection
In natural convection fluid motion is due solely to local buoyancy differences caused by
the presence of the hot or cold body surface. Most fluids near a hot wall, for example,
will have their density decreased, and an upward near-wall motion will be induced.
Natural convection velocities are relatively gentle and the resultant wall heat flux will
generally be less than in forced motion.
The prediction of heat transfer in buoyancy influenced flows is important for a number of
engineering applications, including cooling of electronics, heating and cooling of
buildings, process heat transfer (e.g., heat exchangers), and safety applications (e.g., heat
transfer from fires). In many of these applications, mixed convection exists in which both
forced and free convection contribute to the heat transfer. As a precursor to attempting
the complexities of mixed convection heat transfer, the current study will focus on heat
transfer in purely buoyant flows.
Natural Convection Equations
Properties with a subscript ―f‖ just mean that the property has been obtained at the film
temperature, the average of the solid temperature (T0) and the fluid stream temperature
1 d
f
f dT
(T). If the volume expansion coefficient ( , where the derivative is
evaluated at the film temperature) isn’t tabulated, it can be found in one of two ways:
1. Equation of state for your fluid (e.g. ideal gas equation). If you assume your fluid
is an ideal gas, then f=1/Tf. Otherwise,
2. Use whatever density vs. temperature values you have tabulated and approximate
1
f T
f with .
Although convective heat transfer problems can seem incredibly confusing given the
multitude of different equations available for different systems and flow regimes, it helps
to keep in mind that the whole goal of the problem is to find the overall heat transfer
coefficient, h, so that we can describe the heat transfer from object in the fluid medium.
Thus, finding NuL becomes the problem, and it does get a little ugly from time to time.
Notice that in certain cases (like flat plates) one can define a local dimensionless number
by using x, the distance down the object in the direction of the flow. Finding the local
Nusselt number would allow one to then solve for hx, the ―local‖ heat transfer coefficient.
We’re generally not interested in knowing what the heat transfer coefficient at one
particular point on the surface is, though—we want the average h (which is the one we’re
familiar with from all the heat transfer work we have done), and this is precisely the one
we get from NuL.
The problem is that the equations to find NuL are very problem-specific. Generally,
however, 2 distinguishing characteristics can be identified in the problem to find the
exact equation needed:
Literature Review
K.M.Krall, and E.R.G.Eckert (1973) studied local heat transfer around a cylinder at low
Reynolds number in transverse flow of air at low mach numbers (approximately 0.2)
P.H.Oosthuizen (1976) did an experimental study of free convective heat transfer from
inclined cylinders, proposing a co-relation
W.E.Stewart, Jr. (1976) carried out a study for the experimental determination of free
convective heat transfer from circular cylinders varying their angles of inclination,
proposing a correlation
B.Farouk and S.I.Guceri (1982) studied natural convection from a horizontal cylinder the
flow being in the turbulent region. The model involved studied turbulence through kinetic
energy and its volumetric rate of dissipation. The data was correlated using the co-
relation
A.V.Hassani(1992) studied the natural convective heat transfer from cylinders of
arbitrary cross section. The study aimed at predicting an expression natural convection
heat transfer from isothermal two-dimensional bodies of arbitrary cross section over a
wide range of Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers. The proposed correlation was
M.S.Farid and C.K. Hsieh(1992) worked on measurement of free convective heat transfer
coefficient for a rough horizontal nonisothermal cylinder in ambient air using infrared
scanning. The flow was buoyancy driven and the cylinder was heated internally to a
steady state with nonuniform temperature on the surface. The effect of surface roughness
on the enhancement of heat transfer by free convection was studied.
H.M.badr (1997) studied laminar natural convection from n elliptic tube with different
orientations. The effects of tube orientation ,axis ratio and Rayleigh numbers were
studied .The results showed that the Nusselt number increased with Rayleigh numbers
and that the maximum Nusselt numbers were obtained with the major axis vertical.
Chapter 3
Correlations for heat transfer from inclined cylinders:
For the Grashof numbers considered, previous studies have indicated that for
Φ=00, the heat transfer rate is given by the equation of the form:
Since the Prandtl number remains almost constant in the range covered A is
constant the value is averaged to 0.42, using previous experimental data.
Further, for the range of Grashof numbers considered , previous studies have
indicated that for Φ=900 , the heat transfer rate is given by:
Previous studies indicate for a constant Pr B is 0.55 for the Grashof number
range.
Thus for an arbitrary angle of inclination Φ, the above equations indicate that ,
provided the boundary layer equations apply , which is so for the range of Grashof
numbers considered , then for a given Prandtl number we have:
For large values of L* , the component of buoyancy force parallel to the axis of
the cylinder will have a negligible effect on the flow , which is then effectively two
dimensional , and, therefore, the following will apply:
ND/GD0.25 = 0.42
Similarly, for small values of L*, the component of buoyancy force will have a
negligible effect on the flow which is then again effectively two dimensional; and in this
case then the equation that will apply is:
The variations given by the above equations show that for L* greater than 10 the
equation number [4] applies , while for L* less than 1 equation number [6] applies. Thus
only for the region where L* lies between 1 and 10 are the three dimensional effects
important and the heat rate more than that predicted by either of the two equations.
Where the terms on the right hand side are given by equations [4] and [6]
respectively. Using these two equations, equation [7] can be rearranged to give
This equation will apply in the Grashof number range of 104 to 109.
A similar correlation for vertical cylinders for small aspect ratios has been given
as:
NL = 0.555 (RaL)0.25, (2.2)
The above equation can be modified by substitution of the aspect ratio to yield ND
for vertical cylinders,(Φ=900)
Which satisfies the equation [2.1] for Φ = 0 deg. And equation [2.3] for Φ = 90
deg. And provides for a linear correlation of ND between the vertical and horizontal
positions.
EXPERIMENT
Experimental setup
Four cylindrical models were used in the above study; their main dimensions are
listed in the table below.
The cylinders were constructed out of hollow copper tubes. A nichrome wire
heating element was encapsulated in a fiber enclosure and placed along the center of the
tube .The gap between the heating element and the tube was filled with magnesium
powder. The two ends of the tube were sealed using staplon corks.
The thermocouples were made by fusing together copper and constantan wires of
0.5-millimeter diameter with the help of spark generation between the tips of two wires.
For placing the thermocouples on the surface first 2-millimeter diameter grooves were
punched on the surface to a depth of 1 millimeter and then the thermocouples were
inserted in these grooves. Then again by light punching the grooves were filled up and
the thermocouples were laid out axially for some length so as to minimize end correction.
The cylinder was mounted on a movable frame to allow the reading to be taking at
various angles of inclination. The frame was supported using rubber pads.
Electric power was supplied using the laboratory main using a variac and was
measured using an ammeter and a voltmeter.
A thermo meter was used with the set-up to measure the ambient temperature.
With a given heat input, the surface temperatures were allowed to come to
equilibrium. The average of measured temperatures was then used as the average surface
temperature, nominally near 600C.
The heat transfer coefficient was then calculated by the equation:
H Q / A( T )
(1)
Heat losses other than by free convection are due to radiation from the cylinder
and end losses through the end pieces and the support structure.
Estimates of radiation losses from the cylinder to the chamber walls based upon
average surface temperatures come to about 5%. The necessary corrections were made to
the above equation to account for the radiation losses.
Staplon corks were used to close the ends and rubber pads were used to support
the cylinders. Temperature distributions within these were not measured and hence the
heat loss through these is difficult to estimate.
The ratio of thermal conductivities of copper to the materials used is very high.
Since the copper cylinders reach a steady-state condition, the members are assumed to
have attained steady state as well. Considering the large difference in conductivities, it
has been assumed that the heat loss through the supports and the end pieces was
negligible.