NATURAL CONVECTION

SYSTEMS

By Mrs Azduwin Khasri

Introduction
Natural, or free convection is observed as a
result of the motion of the fluid due to
density changes arising from the heating
process.
The movement of the fluid in free convection,
whether it is a gas or a liquid, results from the
buoyancy forces imposed on the fluid.

Grashof number
The Grashof number may be interpreted physically as a
dimensionless group representing the ratio of the
buoyancy forces to the viscous forces in the freeconvection flow system.
It has a role similar to that played by the Reynolds
number in forced-convection systems and is the
primary variable used as a criterion for transition from
laminar to turbulent boundary layer flow.
g = Gravity constant: 9.81 m/s2
= Volume coefficient of expansion ,K-1
x = Distance from leading edge
v= Kinematic viscosity

Volume coefficient of
expansion
The volume coefficient of expansion
may be determined from tables of
properties for the specific fluid.
For Ideal gases;

T= absolute T of the gas, K-1

Prandtl Number

FREE CONVECTION HEAT

TRANSFER

On a Vertical Flat plate

From Vertical planes and cylinders
From Horizontal cylinders
From horizontal plates
From Inclined surfaces
From Sphere
In Enclosed Spaces

FREE-CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER

ON A VERTICAL FLAT PLATE
When the plate is heated, a free
convection boundary layer is
formed.
At the wall the velocity is zero
because of the no-slip condition
The initial boundary-layer
development is laminar
Farther up the plate the boundary
layer may become fully turbulent

The momentum equation for the laminar

boundary layer;

See Chap 5

The only new force that must be considered in the derivation is the
weight of the element of fluid (-pg);

The pressure gradient in the x direction results

from the change in elevation up the plate.

Equation of motion;

Consider temperature distribution

(Energy Equation for free
convection):

T distribution;

From equation of motion;

Local Heat transfer
coefficient along the
vertical plate;
Average heat transfer
coefficient;

For air in free convection on a vertical flat plate, the critical Grashof
number approximately 4108.

EMPIRICAL RELATIONS
FOR FREE CONVECTION
Average free-convection heat-transfer coefficients
can be represented in the following functional form
for a variety of circumstances:

the subscript f indicates that the

properties in the dimensionless groups
are evaluated at the film temperature
The product of the Grashof and Prandtl
numbers is called the Rayleigh

number:

 The Nusselt
and Grashof
numbers
depends on
the geometry
of the
problem:
-For a vertical
plate: height of
the plate L
-For a horizontal
cylinder :the
diameter d

FREE CONVECTION FROM VERTICAL

PLANES AND CYLINDERS
Isothermal Surfaces
A vertical cylinder may be treated as a vertical flat plate when;

Otherwise, the flat plate results for the average heat-transfer

coefficient should be multiplied by a factor F to account for the
curvature;
For gases

Free-convection heat transfer

Vertical isothermal
plates.

Horizontal
isothermal
cylinders

EXAMPLE 1
A large vertical plate 4.0 m high is maintained at
60C and exposed to atmospheric air at 10C.
Calculate the heat transfer if the plate is 10 m
wide.
Solutions;
1. Which equation to use?
2. Find Ra,Tf,
3. Find the properties to calculate Ra :Pr,v,k
ANSWER: 9606W

FREE CONVECTION FROM

HORIZONTAL CYLINDERS
A more complicated expression for use over a wider range of Gr Pr
is;
A simpler equation but is restricted to the laminar range of 106 <Gr Pr <109:

Properties are evaluated at the film temperature.

Heat transfer from horizontal cylinders to liquid metals may
be calculated from;

FREE CONVECTION FROM

HORIZONTAL PLATES

Isothermal Surfaces
The average heat-transfer coefficient from horizontal flat
plates is calculated with Equation;
For constant heat flux on a horizontal plate.

For the heated

surface facing upward
For the heated surface
facing downward
In these equations all properties except are evaluated at a temperature Te
defined by

EXAMPLE 2
A horizontal pipe 1 ft (0.3048 m) in diameter is
maintained at a temperature of 250C in a room
where the ambient air is at 15C. Calculate the
free-convection heat loss per meter of length.

FREE CONVECTION FROM

INCLINED SURFACES
Extensive experiments have been conducted
for heated plates in water at various angles of
For the inclined plate facing downward with
inclination.
approximately constant heat flux;

All properties except B are evaluated at Te;

The angle, is positive

when the heated surface
facing downward.

is evaluated at;

For almost-horizontal plates facing downward, that is, 88 <<90;

For an inclined plate with heated surface facing upward ;

For angles between 15 and 75 a suitable correlation is;

The quantity Grc is a critical Grashof relation indicating when

the Nusselt number starts to separate from the laminar relation.

FREE CONVECTION FROM

SPHERES
Empirical relation for free-convection heat transfer
from spheres to air:

A more general formula for spheres;

Properties are evaluated at the film temperature

FREE CONVECTION IN
ENCLOSED SPACES
Enclosed vertical
space

A fluid is contained between

two vertical plates separated
by the distance .
As a temperature difference
Tw =T1 T2 is impressed on
the fluid, a heat transfer will
be experienced with the
approximate flow regions;

FREE CONVECTION IN
ENCLOSED SPACES(CONT.)

the Grashof number;

The heat flux is calculated as;

the Nusselt number;

The results are sometimes expressed in the alternate form of an

effective or apparent thermal conductivity ke, defined by

In the building industry the heat transfer across an air gap is sometimes
expressed in terms of the R values

FREE CONVECTION IN
ENCLOSED SPACES
Enclosed horizontal
space

Heat transfer in horizontal enclosed spaces

involves two distinct situations.
If the upper plate is maintained at a higher
temperature than the lower plate, the lowerdensity fluid is above the higher-density fluid
and no convection currents will be
experienced.
The heat transfer across the space will be by
conduction alone and Nu =1.0

FREE CONVECTION IN
ENCLOSED SPACES
The second, when the lower plate has a higher
temperature than the upper plate.
For values of Gr below about 1700, pure conduction is still
observed and Nu =1.0.
As convection begins, a pattern of hexagonal cells is
formed called Benard cells ;
Turbulence begins at about Gr =50,000 and destroys the
cellular pattern.

FREE CONVECTION IN
ENCLOSED SPACES
Inclined enclosure
space

Transient natural-convection heating or

cooling in closed vertical or horizontal
cylindrical enclosures may be calculated
with;

Experimental results for free convection in enclosures are not

always in agreement, but we can express them in a general
form as;

Summary of empirical relations

for free convection in enclosures

EXAMPLE 3
A heated plate, 20 by 20 cm, is inclined at an angle
of 60 with the horizontal and placed in water.
Approximately constant-heat-flux conditions prevail
with a mean plate temperature of 40C and the
heated surface facing downward. The water
temperature is 20C. Calculate the heat lost by the
plate. Repeat Problem for the heated plate facing
upward.

ASSIGNMENT 1
UPLOADED IN PORTAL
DATELINE :28/4/15 (TUESDAY)

THE END
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