PROBLEM 9.

108

KNOWN: Dimensions of enclosure, surface temperatures, and properties of aqueous humor.

FIND: The ratio of the effective to the bulk thermal conductivity of the aqueous humor.

SCHEMATIC:
g Iris-lens
Ti = 37ºC
ri ri = 7 mm

Aqueous humor
ρ = 990 kg/m3
k = 0.58 W/m·K
ro
cp = 4.2 x 103 J/kg·K
Cornea μ = 7.1 x 10-4 N·s/m2
To = 34ºC β = 3.2 x 10-4 K-1
ro = 10 mm

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Constant properties, (2) Steady-state conditions, (3) Person is standing or
sitting vertically.

PROPERTIES: Given, see schematic.

ANALYSIS: The kinematic viscosity is ν = μ/ρ = 7.1 × 10-4 N⋅s/m2/990 kg/m3 = 7.17 × 10-9
m2/s. The thermal diffusivity is α = k/ρc = 0.58 W/m⋅K/(990 kg/m3× 4.2 × 103 J/kg⋅K) = 139.5 ×
10-4 m2/s, while the Prandtl number is Pr = ν/α = (7.17 × 10-9 m2/s)/(139.5 × 10-4 m2/s) = 5.14.
The characteristic length for use in Equation 9.61 is

4/3
⎛1 1⎞ ⎛ 1 1 ⎞
4/3
⎜ − ⎟ ⎜ −3
− −3 ⎟
Ls = ⎝ ri ro ⎠ = ⎝ 7 × 10 m 10 × 10 m ⎠ = 506 × 10−6 m
( ) ( (7 × 10 )
5/ 3 −7 /5 5/ 3
1/ 3
2 ri−7 / 5 + ro−7 / 5 1/ 3
2 −3
m) −7 /5
+ (10 × 10 m) −3

The Rayleigh number is

gβ ( Ts − To ) L3s 9.8m / s2 × 3.2 × 10−4 K −1 × ( 37 − 34 ) °C × (506 × 10−6 m)3
Ra s = = = 12.2
ν ⋅α 7.17 × 10−9 m 2 / s × 139.5 × 10−4 m 2 / s

The ratio of the effective thermal conductivity to bulk thermal conductivity is

1/ 4 1/ 4
k eff ⎛ Pr ⎞ ⎛ 5.14 ⎞
= 0.74 ⎜ ⎟ Ra1/
s
4
= 0.74 × ⎜ ⎟ × (12.2)1/ 4 = 1.33 <
k ⎝ 0.861 + Pr ⎠ ⎝ 0.861 + 5.14 ⎠

Since keff/k > 1, we conclude that free convection does occur in the aqueous humor.

Comments: (1). The velocity of the aqueous humor could be estimated by performing a detailed
simulation using a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) tool. (2) Fluid motion is upward near the
iris and downward adjacent to the cornea when the person is standing or sitting vertically.