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Conversion of Heat Transfer

This document discusses convection heat transfer and the formation of boundary layers during fluid flow over a flat plate. It defines the conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy. When a fluid flows over a heated flat plate, a hydrodynamic boundary layer forms due to viscous interactions near the plate. A thermal boundary layer also forms where the temperature decreases from the plate temperature Tw to the free stream temperature T∞. The thickness of the thermal boundary layer δT(x) depends on the thermal diffusivity of the fluid α, while the thickness of the hydrodynamic boundary layer δu(x) depends on the kinematic viscosity ν. The ratio of these boundary layer thicknesses is equal to the Prandtl number

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69 views2 pages

Conversion of Heat Transfer

This document discusses convection heat transfer and the formation of boundary layers during fluid flow over a flat plate. It defines the conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy. When a fluid flows over a heated flat plate, a hydrodynamic boundary layer forms due to viscous interactions near the plate. A thermal boundary layer also forms where the temperature decreases from the plate temperature Tw to the free stream temperature T∞. The thickness of the thermal boundary layer δT(x) depends on the thermal diffusivity of the fluid α, while the thickness of the hydrodynamic boundary layer δu(x) depends on the kinematic viscosity ν. The ratio of these boundary layer thicknesses is equal to the Prandtl number

Uploaded by

wagohe
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Convection Heat Transfer (MCE-4701)

Lectrue Sheet-3
August 09, 2021

1 Conservation Equations
1. Conservation of Mass Equation: Yunus A. Çengel Heat and mass transfer Book. Page
345.

2. Conservation of Momentum Equation: Yunus A. Çengel Heat and mass transfer Book.
Page 346.

3. Conservation of Energy Equation: Yunus A. Çengel Heat and mass transfer Book.
Page 348.

2 Energy Equation and Thermal Boundary Layer over


a Flat Plat
Let us consider that a fluid coming from far steam with a velocity u∞ and temperature T∞ .
And let us say that the temperature of this wall is Tw and Tw is greater than T∞ . Now
due to velocity of fluid heat convection will occur and hydrodynamic boundary layer will be
appeared because of viscous interactions as shown in figure 2.1.

0.99 u
T
u
(x)

Tw

Figure 2.1: Hydrodynamic boundary layer generation during fluid flow.

Now consider the temperature at different section at flow. At wall temperature is Tw . If


we go further away from wall temperature decrease. In this way, there will be a distance
from the wall at which the temperature will almost come to T∞ . The lowest temperature
of the fluid is T∞ so temperature at any other location in the fluid has to be greater than

1
T∞ for effective heat transfer from the wall to the fluid. Now the distance from the wall
at which the temperature becomes practically T∞ , that distance is called thermal boundary
layer thickness δT (x).

thermal boundary layer edge

1.01 T

T 1.01 T
u (x)
T
(x)
T Tw Tw

Figure 2.2: Thermal boundary layer generation during fluid flow.

In fluid mechanics, we have just one boundary layers but in heat transfer we have hydrody-
namic boundary layer and thermal boundary layer. So, we have to distinguish these two by
using these two different terminologies. Now we will discuss the relation between hydrody-
namic boundary layer thickness (δu (x)) and thermal boundary layer thickness (δT (x)). Now
hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness (δu (x)) depends on the kinematic viscosity of the
fluid (ν) and thermal boundary layer thickness (δT (x)) depends on the thermal diffusivity
(α). As the thermal diffusivity (α) will be more then distance will be greater at which the
heating or cooling effect of the wall will be propagated. So Kinematic viscosity is a indica-
tion of momentum disturbance in the fluid and Thermal diffusivity is the indication of the
thermal disturbance within the fluid. Now the ration between hydrodynamic boundary layer
thickness (δu (x)) and thermal boundary layer thickness (δT (x)) is related to ratio of αν and
this ratio is a dimensionless number which is called Prandtl number.
δu (x) ν
= = Prandtl number
δT (x) α

So clearly depending on different values of Prandtl number, it is possible that δT (x) may be
greater than δu (x). δT (x) may be equal to δu (x) or δT (x) may be less than δu (x) for Prandtl
number equal to one delta T and delta are identical.

For Prandtl number, Pr = 1 δu (x) = δT (x)

For Prandtl number, Pr < 1 δu (x) < δT (x)


For Prandtl number, Pr > 1 δu (x) > δT (x)

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