1

LECTURE 2
Fundamentals of Convection
Flow Over Flat Plates






2








conv

= hA
s
(T
s
T

) Watt

Convection Heat Transfer

By Newtons Law of Cooling, convection heat transfer is
proportional to temperature different :














2
Q

h = convection heat transfer coefficient (W/m
2
C)
A
s
= heat transfer surface area (m
2
)
T
s
= temperature of surface (C)
T

= temperature of media far from surface (C)

3






Heat transfer by conduction,


cond
= kA
s
(T
1
T
2
) / L = kA
s
T/ L

Heat transfer by convection,


conv

= hA
s
(T
1
T
2
) = hA
s
T

By taking ratio heat transfer of convection to conduction
gives :

conv
/

cond
=













3
Q

Nusselt Number
T
S
= T
1
T

= T
2
4
4






or
Reynolds Number
Reynolds Number (Re) gives relation between inertial
force and viscous force of fluid flow.

Re = inertial force / viscous force














VL

/

VD

/
V = free stream velocity (m/s)
L

= characteristic length (m) for flat plate
D

= diameter (m) for tube/cylinder
= kinematic viscosity (m
2
/s)
5
5






Prandtl Number
The thickness of thermal boundary layer increases in the
flow direction of liquid.

The development of velocity boundary layer relative to
thermal boundary layer will have strong effect on
convection heat transfer

The relative thickness of the velocity and thermal boundary
layers are described by the dimensionless parameter called :

Prandtl Number (Pr)











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6






Prandtl Number





Heat diffuses very quick in liquid metals and gaseous
(Pr =1 and less) and very slow in water/oil (Pr > 1).












Liquid metals 0.004 0.03
Gaseous 0.7 1.0
Water 1.7 13.7
Oil 50 100,000
Typical values Pr Number :
7
7






Properties of Air
























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8






Friction Force over Flat Plate
Because of the friction between the layers, exerting a
friction force on the plate.

The friction force over the entire surface is determined as
below, where C
f
is friction coefficient

Friction Force, F
f
= C
f
A
s
V
2
/ 2 (N)

The friction force is important parameter in heat transfer
studies since its is directly related to the heat transfer
coefficient.














9
















Laminar :
Turbulent :

2 1
Re
328 . 1

f
C
5 1
Re
074 . 0

f
C
Re
1742
Re
074 . 0
5 1

f
C
Laminar & Turbulent
Friction Coefficient over Flat Plate
10
10






Friction and Pressure Drag



















When the flat plate is placed normal to the flow direction,
however, the drag force depends on the pressure only and is
independent of the wall shear since the shear stress in this case
acts in the direction normal to flow.
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11






Friction and Pressure Drag



















The drag force FD depends on the density of the fluid, the
upstream velocity, and the size, shape, and orientation of the
body, among other things.

The drag characteristics of a body is represented by the
dimensionless drag coefficient CD defined as




where A is the frontal area that tends to block the flow. The
frontal area of a cylinder of diameter D and length L, for
example, is A = LD.
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Flow Across Different Bodies











12
Plate [ A
N
= L x w ]




Sphere [ A
N
= D ]





Cylinder [ A
N
= L x D ]

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13






Limitation of Re over Flat Plate
























The transition from laminar to turbulent flow depends on
the surface geometry, surface roughness, surface
temperature, velocity and type of fluid used.



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14






Limitation of Re over Flat Plate
For fluid flow over the flat surface, the limit of laminar
and turbulent flows is given as :




Laminar Flow : Re < 5 x 10
5

Turbulent Flow : Re 5 x 10
5























Re = 5 x 10
5

Transition ?

15






Nu, Pr and Re Numbers
Generally, heat transfer analysis on forced convection
involves three major numbers : Nusselt number (Nu),
Prantdl number (Pr) and Reynolds number (Re).

To simplify the numbers :




C, m and n are constant value that depends on geometry
and flow type of the body (range of Re). The value of
m and n are between 0 to 1.











15
Nu = C Re
m
Pr
n

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16






Nusselt Number over Flat Plates












Laminar : Re < 5 x 10
5

3 1 5 . 0
Pr Re 664 . 0 Nu
k
hL
Turbulent : Re 5 x 10
5

3 1 8 . 0
Pr Re 037 . 0 Nu
k
hL
Laminar & Turbulent : Re 5 x 10
5
3 1 8 . 0
Pr ) 871 Re 037 . 0 ( Nu
k
hL
Nu = C Re
m
Pr
n

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17






The flat plate is assumed to be at uniform temperature
during the entire flow.

However, when a flat plate is subjected to uniform heat
flux instead of uniform temperature, the Nu is given as :










Laminar :


Turbulent :
3 1 5 . 0
Pr Re 453 . 0 Nu
k
hL
3 1 8 . 0
Pr Re 0308 . 0 Nu
k
hL
Uniform Temperature/Heat Flux
18








q

Uniform temperature
Uniform heat flux
T
s

=W/m
2

Uniform Temperature/Heat Flux
19






Fluid Properties
The fluid temperature in the thermal boundary layer varies
from T
s
at the surface to T

at the outer edge of boundary.

Therefore, by taking the average, the fluid properties are
usually evaluated at film temperature (T
f
) :




The fluid properties are assumed to remain constant
during the entire flow.














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T
f
= (T
s
+ T

) / 2
20






Methodology for Solving Problem
Find the fluid properties based on T
f


Calculate the Reynolds Number (Re)

Identify the type of flow, based on Re obtained

Determine h from equation of Nu

Use the right equations

= hA
s
(T
s
T

)
C
f
= Laminar or Turbulent


F
f
= C
f
A V
2
/ 2











20
Q

T
s
= 110 C T

= 30 C V = 6 m/s






21
5 m
1.5 m
Q

Example 1
Air, at 30C flows with a velocity of 6 m/s over a 1.5 m x 5m
flat plate whose temperature is 110 C. Determine the rate of
heat transfer from the plate if the flows parallel to :

a) 5 m long side b) 1.5 m side
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22






Properties of Air
























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23






Assume air at 1 atm pressure

T
f
= (T
s
+T

)/2 = (110 + 30)/2 = 70C

Properties of air at 70C

k = 0.02881 W/m.C =1.995 x 10
-5
m
2
/s
Pr = 0.7177

Surface are of the flat plate
A
s
= W x L = 1.5 x 5 = 7.5 m
2




















Example 1
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24






(a) 5 m long side (L = 5 m)

Re = 1503759, Re 5 x 10
5
- Turbulent
Assume the entire flow is turbulent

Nu = 2899 h = 16.7 W/m
2
C

= 10020 W

b) 1.5 m long side (L = 1.5 m)

Re = 451128, Re < 5 x 10
5
- Laminar


Nu = 399 h = 7.67 W/m
2
C

= 4602 W






















Q

Example 1
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25






Forced Convection



















EXERCISE 1

Consider a hot automotive engine, which can be approximated
as a 0.5-m-high, 0.40-m-wide, and 0.8-m-long rectangular
block. The bottom surface of the block is at a temperature of
100C and the ambient air is at 20C.

Determine the rate of heat transfer from the bottom surface of
the engine block by convection as the car travels at a velocity
of 80 km/h.
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Properties of Air
























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EXERCISE 2

A 15-cm x 15-cm circuit board dissipating 15 W of power
uniformly is cooled by air, which approaches the circuit
board at 20C with a velocity of 6 m/s. Disregarding any heat
transfer from the back surface of the board, determine the
surface temperature of the electronic component.
Forced Convection
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28






Properties of Air
























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EXERCISE 3

Consider a case of air flows over hot plates with 20 cm x 50 cm
surface area. The velocity of air is 5 m/s, the temperature of
each plate is 120C and the surrounding air temperature is 60C.
Determine the rate of heat transfer.
Forced Convection
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30






Properties of Air