Course: Heat Transfer( MEC301)

Major Topic:
Free Convection

Prepared By: Sudhanshu Dogra

Assistant Professor/COD(Thermal Engineering)
UID: 16900
School of Mechanical Engineering
Lovely Professional University
Free Convection

When the surface is maintained in still fluid at a temperature higher or lower than that of the fluid, a layer
of fluid adjacent to the surface gets heated or cooled. A density difference is created between the layer and
the still fluid surrounding it. The density difference introduces a buoyant force causing a flow of fluid near
the surface, Heat transfer under such conditions is known as natural convection. Free or natural convection
is the process of heat transfer which occurs due to movement of the fluid particles by density difference.

Some examples are:

Cooling of transmission lines.

Sea breeze.
Associated general formulas
Grashof's formula

Prandtl No. = µcp/k

Empirical Correlations for Free Convection
Vertical Plates and Cylinders
Horizontal Plates
Horizontal Cylinders
Numerical 1

9
Contd…
Contd…
Numerical 2
Contd…
Contd…

14
Numerical 3
THANKS