sot82015 “Thermofuds | Arum Narasimhan Aruna’ Notebook Nusselt, Biot numbers and Ozisik ‘The non-dimensional representation of the convection heat transfer coefficient '’ is identified asthe Nusselt ‘number, in honor of Wilhelm Nusselt. Tt ean he written as {In Eq, (2), Lisa characteristic length scale. For instance, if one needs to define the overall convection heat transfer coefficient fora (cold) flaw over a (hot) flat plate, then L would represent the total ste length of the ‘at plate along the flow direction. The ein Bq (:) isthe thermal conductivity of. lot us wait and proceed. ‘There is another non-dimensional number in heat transfer physics called the Bist number, named after Jean [Raplise iat (whose other contributions include the Biot-Savart law and according to some, the Fourier Law). It is written as Bim HE.--(2) ‘where h isthe convection heat transfer coficient, Lis the characteristic length sea, the thermal conductivity of. wait a minate, aren't Eg, (2) and Bq, (1) same? In Bq, (2) the thermal conductivity is that ofthe sold medium which is dipped ina uid. In Eq. (0) the thermal conductivity is hat of the fad medium. [Nusselt number, through the non-dimensionalization ofthe heat transfer coefficient in Eq, (, quantifies how ‘aueh the convection heat transfer could be higher when compared withthe conduction heat transfer, ifthe Oud were stationary, ‘The Biot number in Bg (2) provides a way to compace the conduction resistance within a solid ody to the convection resistance external to that body (offered by the surrounding Mud) for heat transfer. ‘Say an hot steel rod of diameter L is quenched by dipping into stationary air, Since the convection coefficient for stationary ar atthe maximum i around I0H"/™°1 and the thermal conductiviy of hot steel ranges between 50 << 251¥/m A (decreases with inerease in‘), the Biot number in Eq, (2) would be Bi © 1 provided the L is sufficient small. Thisallows one to simplify the transient conduction heat transfer process within thestel rod by treating it asa lumped mediam with a single temperature (practically no temperature difference from the center tothe edge ofthe ro in radial direction) changing in time, For thermal insulators (kis wery small) Kept ina strong convection situation, irespectve ofthe smallness of T, ‘Bi > leould prevail, where the conduction inside the insulator would result in a spatio-temporal temperature difference, which can nether be neglected nor allow one to ‘lump the insulator with a single representative temperature, ‘The Bi provides @ way to use proper method of analysis for appropriate situations. ‘We stop here to take diversion. ‘Undergrads taking first course in Heat Transfer on many instances don't appreciate the above difference between \Nu and Bi. This isa standard googly question in any oral exam that involves testing of heat transfer bases. To set the record straight, I wasn't aware ofthe difference in my undergrad either. ‘Theirs time I read and understood about the diference between Nu and Bi asin my masters from the ‘excellent book Heat Transfer, a basic approach by M. N. Ozisik. 1 distinetiy remember the elation of this'seret knowledge’ and the impulsive rush propeling me through the hostel corridors to my friend's room to test his "ignorance against mine that is now slightly reduced. He later suggested to keep the book hidden with me throughout the semester (the library had only one copy of the book) to ensure athers remain protected from such ‘We stop this story of hove Ios the book and paid the hefty Hbrary fine acceding to my conniving spirit, to take one more diversion ipsthomeiitm ac inarunnnussal-bickrumbers-and-oisk Hl wesot82015 “Thermofuds | Arun Narasimhan [My entire note above is just a preamble to mention this: Professor Emeritus M. [Necati Orsi (1923-2008) passed away in Oct 2008. An obituary has appeared fn the latest issue ofthe Intertionsl Journal of Heat ane Mass Transfer. An hhghlight from the obituary text: [.-] Ozisie dedicated his fe to education and research in heat transfer. [a] Me published more than three hundred research papers in ‘international journals and conferences, He was the author of eleven books, most of them bestsellers that were re-edited several times and published in diferent languages. His personal characteristics were ‘apparent io all these books, where the material was rigorously presented ina elear, organized and gsiematic manner. Asa result, is books became standards in graduate and undergraduate courses in ‘many countries. His main contsbutions inchided analytic, numerical and hybrid solution techniques fr dzeet and inverse problems, for coupled and uncoupled heat transfer modes. ‘Thank you Prof. M. Necati Orisk for making me appreciate the nuances of heat transfer atthe right age, Reference 1] Profesor Emeritus M. Necati Orisik 1929-2008 [doi10 1016/ heatmassransfer 2008 12.022] ‘© Arunn Naraseshan | Original version writen ~ Apr, 2009 | ast revisionon Apr 0, 2012 Home it ac ivarunninusalt-bckrumbers-and-aisik Hm!