PROBLEM 9.

6
KNOWN: Large vertical plate with uniform surface temperature of 130C suspended in quiescent air
at 25C and atmospheric pressure.
FIND: (a) Boundary layer thickness at 0.25 m from lower edge, (b) Maximum velocity in boundary
layer at this location and position of maximum, (c) Heat transfer coefficient at this location, (d)
Location where boundary layer becomes turbulent.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Isothermal, vertical surface in an extensive, quiescent medium, (2) Boundary
layer assumptions valid.
-6 2
PROPERTIES: Table A-4, Air Tf = ( Ts + T ) / 2 = 350K, 1 atm : = 20.92 10 m /s, k =

0.030 W/mK, Pr = 0.700.

ANALYSIS: (a) From the similarity solution results, Fig. 9.4 (see above right), the boundary layer
thickness corresponds to a value of 5. From Eqs. 9.13 and 9.12,

y = x ( Grx / 4 )

1/ 4

(1)

2
m
1
3 2
Grx = g ( Ts T ) x / = 9.8
(130 25 ) K x 3 / 20.92 106 m 2 / s = 6.718 109 x 3 (2)
2 350K
s

1/ 4
3
= 1.746 102 m = 17.5 mm.
y 5 ( 0.25m ) 6.718 109 ( 0.25 ) / 4

(3) <

(b) From the similarity solution shown above, the maximum velocity occurs at 1 with
f ( ) = 0.275. From Eq.9.15, find

1/ 2
2 1/2
2 20.92 106 m 2 / s
3
9

u=
Grx f ( ) =
0.275 = 0.47 m/s.
6.718 10 ( 0.25 )

x
0.25m

<

The maximum velocity occurs at a value of = 1; using Eq. (3), it follows that this corresponds to a
position in the boundary layer given as

ymax = 1/ 5 (17.5 mm ) = 3.5 mm.

<

(c) From Eq. 9.19, the local heat transfer coefficient at x = 0.25 m is

1/ 4
1/ 4
3
Nu x = h x x/k = ( Grx / 4 )
g ( Pr ) = 6.718 109 ( 0.25 ) / 4
0.50 = 35.7

h x = Nu x k/x = 35.7 0.030 W/m K/0.25 m = 4.3 W/m2 K.

<

The value for g(Pr) is determined from Eq. 9.20 with Pr = 0.700.
(d) According to Eq. 9.23, the boundary layer becomes turbulent at xc given as

Ra x,c = Grx,c Pr 109

1/ 3
x c 109 / 6.718 109 ( 0.700 )
= 0.60 m.

<

COMMENTS: Note that = 1/Tf is a suitable approximation for air.

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