Natural Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient Correlations (S.I. units) 5.

With an isothermal sphere

Inputs Fluid Temp, T =
Surface Temp, Tw = 30 60
o

Fluid =

air

Calculations
C C Temp Diff, DT = Abs. Film Temp, Tf = Prandtl Number, Pr = 30 318
o

C K

Film Temp., Tf = [ Tf = (T + Tw)/2 ]

45

0.7

Grashof Number, Gr = Sphere Diam., D = 0.7 ft Rayleigh No., Ra = Fluid Density, r* = 1.1 kg/m3

9.43.E+09

6.53E+09

Fluid viscosity, m =

0.0000187

N-s/m2 Nu = 131 W/m2-K

Fluid Sp. Heat, Cp =

J/g- K h = 5.05

Fluid Sp. Heat, Cp =

1000

J/kg-oK

Fluid Thermal Conductivity, k = Fluid Thermal Expans. Coeff, b = 0.003143

o

0.027

J/s-m-K

K-1

* For an Excel spreadsheet that can be downloaded to calculate the density of a gas with known molecular weight and specified temperature and pressure, see: "Excel Templates for Venturi and Orifice Flow Meter Calculations," at:
http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/civil/articles/83825.aspx

Equations for Natural Convection - Isothermal Sphere