4-6-2016

Dimensionless Numbers
VL intertial forces
=

viscous forces

Re Reynolds Number

Bi Biot Number

hL overall rate of heat transfer (outside of body)

=
k
rate of heat conduction (inside of body)

k=thermal

conductivity

Fo X Fo = Fourier Number

t
rate of heat transfer by conduction
=
2
L
rate of accumulation of thermal energy

Bi(mass) Biot Number(mass transfer)

kc L overall rate of mass transfer (outside of body)

=
DAB
rate of diffusion (inside of body)

Fo(mass) X Fo = Fourier Number (mass transfer)

bi = Thiele Modulus

DAB t
rate of diffusion of species A
=
2
L
rate of accumulation of species A

kL2
rate of reaction (homogeneous, 1st order)
bi
=
DAB
rate of diffusion
2

k=reaction

rate

Da Damkohler Number (mass transfer)

Pe Peclet Number

k " L rate of reaction (heterogeneous)

=
DAB
rate of diffusion

VL heat transfer by convection

=

heat transfer by conduction

Pe AB Mass Transfer Peclet Number

Pr Prandtl Number

(in the direction of flow)

VL
mass transfer by convection
=
DAB
mass transfer by diffusion

(in the direction of flow)

momentum diffusivity
=

thermal diffusivity

Sc Schmidt Number

Nu L Nusslet Number

momentum diffusivity
=
DAB
mass diffusivity
hL
overall rate of heat transfer (conduction + convection)
=
k
rate of heat conduction (in fluid outside of body/surface)

Sh L Sherwood Number

kc L overall rate of mass transfer (diffusion + convection)

=
DAB
rate of diffusion (in fluid outside of body/surface)

St Stanton Number (heat transfer)

Nu
h

= modified Nusslet Number

RePr
C pV

St AB Stanton Number (mass transfer)

k
Sh
c = modified Sherwood Number
ReSc V

Note: variables like L or V are NOT specific symbols, rather they require
appropriate selection that is problem specific, e.g. L can be diameter D of
a pipe, the length L of a pipe, the thickness of a fluid layer on a surface.
Be careful to choose the correct characteristic length, velocity and
temperature difference.