Natural convection

Convection divided into two basic processes

a) forced convection
b) natural convection
* the flow arises naturally from the effect of a density
difference,
resulting from a temperature or concentration difference in a
body force field such as gravity.
* The density difference gives rise to buoyancy forces due to
which the flow is generated.

The main difference between natural and forced convection lies

in the mechanism by which flow is generated.
In forced convection, externally imposed flow is generally known.
In natural convection it results from an interaction of the density
difference with the gravitational (or some other body force) field
and is therefore inevitably linked with and dependent on the
temperature and/or concentration fields.
Determination of motion.
The motion determined from a consideration of the
- heat and mass transfer process
- coupled with fluid flow mechanisms.
- velocities and the pressure differences

Natural convection flow over a vertical surface

Natural convection flow over a vertical surface

Boundary layer development on a heated vertical plate.

(a) Velocity and temperature profiles in the boundary layer at
the location x. (b) Boundary layer transitional flow conditions.

Natural Convection
-fluid motion is induced by density differences
- h related to the buoyancy and the thermal properties of the fluid through
the Rayleigh number Ra,

2 gC p 3
g 3
Ra
L T
L T
k

the fluid properties are evaluated at the fluid bulk temperature.

k
h C ( Ra ) n (W / m 2 k )
L
where n = 0.25 for 103 < Ra < 109, representing laminar flow;
= 0.33 for 109 < Ra < 1012, the transition to turbulent flow;
and
= 0.4 for Ra > 1012, when strong turbulent flow prevails.
C = 0.45 to 0.65 for laminar flow and 0.11 to 0.15 for turbulent flow past the
heated surface

Some empirical relations

The Nusselt number, Nu:

The Prandtl number, Pr :

Nu

hL
k

kinematic vis cos ity

Pr

thermal diffusivity k
C p

C p C p

k
k
The Grashof number, Gr: Gr buoyant Force x

( L3 g T )x
L3 2 g T

2
The Rayleigh number, Gr: = (Gr.Pr)

Inertia Force

(viscous force)2
V 2 L2

( VL)2

Boundary Layer Thickness,

3.93 Pr

0.5

(0.952 Pr)

0.25

0.25

Grx

where Grx is local Grasof Numer

Tf

g x (TW T )

Nu=f (Gr.Pr) C.(Gr )a (Pr)b C (Gr.Pr) m

constant C depends upon
- nature of flow
- geometrical configuration
- its orientation
for Laminar flow 104 (Gr.Pr) 109
for Turbulent flow (Gr.Pr) > 109
(Gr.Pr) is also called as Rayleigh Number
1. If {GrL/Re2L} 1, it is Forced convection.
2. If {GrL/Re2L} >> 1, it is Free convection.
3. If {GrL/Re2L} = 1, it is Mixed convection

(A) Vertical Plates and large cylinders

i) Laminar flow; 104 (Gr.Pr) 109
Nu 0.59(Gr.Pr)1/4
ii) Turbulent flow; 109 (Gr.Pr) 1012
Nu 0.13(Gr.Pr)1/3
All fluid properties @ film temprature
& Re at characteristic length.

(B) Horizontal Plates wires and cylinders

(a) upper surface heated
i) Laminar flow; 105 (Gr.Pr) 2 x107
Nu 0.54(Gr.Pr)1/4
ii) Turbulent flow; 2x107 (Gr.Pr) 3x1010
Nu 0.14(Gr.Pr)1/3
All fluid properties @ film temprature
& Re at characteristic length.

(B) Horizontal Plates wires and cylinders

(b)Plate lower surface heated
i) Laminar; 3x105 Gr.Pr 3 x1010
Nu 0.27(Gr.Pr)1/4
ii) Turbulent flow; 7x106 (Gr.Pr) 11x1010
Nu 0.107(Gr.Pr)1/3
All fluid properties @ film temprature
& Re at characteristic length.

(C) Long Cylinders L/D>60

i) Laminar flow; 104 (Gr.Pr)109
Nu 0.53 (Gr.Pr)0.25
ii ) Turbulent Flow;109 (Gr.Pr) 1012
Nu 0.13(Gr.Pr)1/3

Correlation Selection Rules.

Identify the flow surface geometry.
Does the problem involve flow over a flat plate, a cylinder, or a sphere? Or flow
through a tube of circular or non-circular cross-sectional area?
Specify the appropriate reference temperature and evaluate the pertinent
fluid properties at that temperature.
For moderate boundary layer temperature differences, the film temperature,
Tf, defined as the average of the surface and free stream temperatures.
Calculate the Reynolds number.
Using the appropriate characteristic length, calculate the Reynolds number to
determine the boundary layer flow conditions. If the geometry is the flat plate in
parallel flow, determine whether the flow is laminar, turbulent, or mixed.
Decide whether a local or surface average coefficient is required.
The local coefficient is used to determine the heat flux at a point on the surface;
the average coefficient is used to determine the heat transfer rate for the entire
surface.

Select the appropriate correlation.

The Churchill-Chu correlation may be applied over the entire

range of RaL

0.387 Ra1/6
L

Nu 0.825
9/16
1

(0.492
/
Pr)

For laminar flow

RaL 10

8/ 27

0.387 Ra1/6
L

Nu 0.825
9/16
1

(0.492
/
Pr)

8/27

Summary of Free Convection Correlations for Immersed Geometries

Analytical solution

Velocity
Profile

Heated
Plate

Temp
Profile

C
Viscous
Force

Buoyant
Force

Edge of
thermal &
momentum
boundary
layered
D
dx

TW

Laminar Flow

Turbulent Flow

Flow over a Heated Vertical Plate in Air

A
B

g
H

Control volume for heated

vertical plate

Assumptions:
1. The flow is steady, Laminar and two dimensional.
2. The temperature difference between the plate and the fluid is small to
moderate. Hence the fluid may be treated as having constant properties.
3. The fluid is incompressible. (exception variable density in buoyancy force)
4. Boundary layer approximation.
Inertia force = buoyancy force + friction force
In case of,
Low Prandtl Number (liquid metals): Viscous effects are small.
High Prandtl Number (heavy oils): inertia effects are small.
With increase in Prandtl Number: Maximum vertical velocity decreases.
: t decreases.
: Thus there is higher heat transfer.

Governing Equations
The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u
v
1 p
2u X
u v
v 2
x
y
x y
where X body force per unit volume g
u
v
1 p
u
u v
v 2 g
x
y
x y
From layer approximations
p
p
0 and
g
y
x
2

The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u
v
1
u
u v ( g ) g v 2
x
y

y
2

u
v g
u
or u v ( ) v 2
x
y
y
g
( ) is the buoyancy force

& var iable originates flow.

2

Let be the volumetric Thermal Expansion Coefficient

1

T

provides a measure of
the amount by which the density changes
in response to change in temperature at const ' p '
1

T T

The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u
v
u
u v g (T T ) v 2
x
y 1 4 2 43 {y
1 4 2 43
Buoyancy
2

Inertia

Friction

The presence of temperature in the buoyancy term of the

momentum equation couples the flow to the temperature.
But the overall Mass and Energy Conservation equation remain
unchanged.

Let us choose a control volume ABCD having height H, length dx and unit
thickness normal to the plane of paper.

Conservation of Mass:

Mass of fluid entering through face AB =

AB

0 udy

d
Mass of fluid leaving face CD= m udy
udy dx
dx

CD

d
Mass of fluid entering through face AB = m
udy dx
dx

AB

Conservation of Momentum

Momentum entering face AB =

Momentum leaving face

H
0

u 2 dy

d H 2
0 u dy dx
CD= u dy
dx
H
0

d
Net efflux of momentum in the +x-direction= u dy dx
dx
2

the external forces acting on control volume are:

(a) Viscous Force =

du

dx acting in the -ve x-direction.

dy y 0

(b) Buoyant force approximated as

From Newton's law of Motion

2
u dy
dx 0

du

dy y 0

H
g (T T ) dy
0

g (T T )dy
0

dx

(c) Conservation of Energy

ABconv

ADconv

H
or, uCTdy CT
0

BC cond

udy
dx
d

CDconv

dT
dx k

dx
dy y 0

d H
uTCdy
uTCdy dx
dx 0

d
k dT

u (T T )dy
dx 0
C dy

y 0

dT
dy y0

The boundary conditions are:

Velocity profile:

Temperature profile

u=0 at y=0

T=TW at y =0

u=0 at y=

T=T at y= t

du
dy

0 at y=

dT
dy

0 at y= t

The functional relationship for velocity and temperature profiles

that satisfy the boundary conditions is :

u
u

where u is a fictious velocity which is function of x

and
(T T )
(TW T )

solving the expressions for Boundary Layer Thickness,

3.93 Pr

0.5

(0.952 Pr)

0.25

0.25

Grx

where Grx is local Grasof Numer

g x (TW T )

The heat transfer coefficient can be evaluated from

dT
k

h (Tw T )

dy y 0
from the equation of temperature distribution
h

2k

or

hX
k

Nu X

2X

The non-dimensional equation for heat transfer coefficient is

given as

Nu X 0.508 Pr

0.5

(0.952 Pr)

this agrees with Nu L

Nu L 0.677 Pr

0.5

4
3

0.25

0.25
Grx

Nu L

(0.952 Pr)

0.25

0.25
Grx

Limitation of Analytical Solution

Except for the analytical solution for flow over a flat
plate, experimental measurements are required to
evaluate the heat transfer coefficient.
Since in free convection systems, the velocity at the
surface of wall and the edge of the boundary layer is
zero and its magnitude within the boundary layer is so
small , it is very difficult to measure them.

Expression for h for a heated Vertical Cylinder in

Air
The characteristic length used for Gr and Pr is Height
of the surface.
If is not too large compared with the diameter of the
cylinder, h can be evaluated by using expressions for
vertical Plate.
That is, when D/L 35/(GrL)0.25

These results are irrespective of whether TW>T or TW <T

If 104 GrXPr 109

..

The solution is valid.

If GrXPr <104

..

The solution is no longer valid.

If GrXPr >109

..

The turbulence takes over.

It is also seen that,

Pr 1, t = .
Pr > 1, t =
Local Nusselt Number, NuX = {GrX/4}0.25.g(Pr)

for entire range of Pr

g . Pr

0.75 Pr
(0.609 1.221 Pr

0.5

0.5

1.238 Pr)

0.25

Problem:
A 0.5 m high flat plate of glass at 93 0C is removed from an annealing
furnace and hung vertically in the air at 28 0C, 1 atm. Calculate the initial
rate of heat transfer to the air. The plate is 1 m wide.
Solution:
1. Q = hL A (Tw - T)

.. h

2. hL => (avg)NuL,
3. (avg)NuL = 4/3 NuL, ..> NuL
4. Local Nusselt Number, NuX = {GrX/4}0.25.g(Pr)
5. Calculate Gr and Pr.
6. Decide if flow is laminar or turbulent, calculate (avg)Nu, (avg)h and
then Q

Solution:
Gr =7.44 x 108,
Pr = 0.701,
NuL = 58.27,
(avg)NuL= 77.69,
(avg) h = 4.465 w/m^2 K
and Q = 145.1 W

Free Convection from Other Geometries

a) Inclined Plate
If is the angle of inclination from the vertical.
+ : upward-facing heated surface
- : downward-facing heated surface
Correlations for vertical surface can be used by replacing g
with g cos in the range of +200 to -600
b) For Spheres
Nu = 2+0.43(Gr.Pr)0.25
For 3 x 105 <(Gr.Pr) < 8x1010 ;Nu = 2+0.50(Gr.Pr)0.25

c) For Short Cylinders (D=H)

Nu = 0.775 (Gr.Pr)0.208
d) For Other Solids
Nu = 0.52 (Gr.Pr)0.25