HEAT TRANSFER

External Forced Convection

Lecture 1-Flow over flat plates
 Lesson outcome:
At the end of the lecture the student should be
able to:
• Evaluate the drag and heat transfer associated
with flow over flat plate for both laminar and
turbulent flow
 External flow
• Fluid flow over solid bodies frequently occurs in practice
• Free-stream velocity: The velocity of the fluid relative to an
immersed solid body sufficiently far from the body.
• It is usually taken to be equal to the upstream velocity V
(approach velocity) which is the velocity of the approaching
fluid far ahead of the body.

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 Newton’s law of cooling
• The rate of convection heat transfer can be expressed by
Newton’s law of cooling
qconv  h(Ts  T ) (W/m 2 )
or
Q conv  hAs (Ts  T ) (W)

Convection heat transfer coefficient, h: The rate of heat transfer between a solid
surface and a fluid per unit surface area per unit temperature difference.
Convection heat transfer coefficient
• Due to no-slip condition which induce boundary layer,
heat transfer coefficient can be calculated as
 k fluid T y y 0
h (Watt/m 2 K)
Ts -T

• Nusselt number is ratio of convective to conductive

heat transfer across (normal to) the same fluid
qconv hT
Nu  
qcond k T
L
hL
Nu 
k
 Friction and pressure drag
• Drag: The force a flowing fluid exerts
on a body in the flow direction.
• The components of the pressure and
wall shear forces in the normal
direction to flow tend to move the
body in that direction, and their sum
is called lift.
• Both the skin friction (wall shear) and
pressure contribute to the drag and
the lift. V 2
FD  C D A (N)
2
• CD= CD, friction +CD, pressure
a) Drag force depend on shear only
• For flat plate C D  C D , friction  C f b) Drag force depend on pressure only
 Heat transfer
• From previous lecture, we know that
Nu x  function x*, Re L , Pr  (for local Nu)
Nu  functionRe L , Pr  (for average Nu)

• From experiment, a simple power law relation is commonly

used
Nu  C Re mL Pr n

• Fluid properties for calculation are evaluated at film

temperature
Ts  T
Tf 
2
 Parallel flow over flat plate
• The transition from laminar to
turbulent flow depends on the
surface geometry, surface
roughness, upstream velocity,
surface temperature, and the
type of fluid, among other things,
and is best characterized by the
Reynolds number.
Vx
Laminar and turbulent regions of the
Vx
Re x  
boundary layer during flow over a flat plate

   5  105 laminar
Re x 
• Critical Reynolds number
 5  10 5
turbulent
Vxcr
Re x   5 105

 Parallel flow over flat plate
Friction coefficient
• The boundary layer thickness and local friction coefficient
4.91x 0.664
Laminar :   1/ 2 , C f , x  1/ 2 , Re x  5 105
Re x Re x
0.38 x 0.059
Turbulent :   , C f ,x  , 5 105  Re x  107
Re x
1/ 5
Re x
1/ 5

• Average friction coefficient

1.33
Laminar : C f  1/ 2 , Re x  5 105
Re L
0.074
Turbulent : C f  , 5 105  Re L  107
Re L
1/ 5
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Friction coefficient
• When both laminar and turbulent flow occur
0.059 1742
Cf   , 5  105  Re L  107
Re L
1/ 5
Re L

• For a rough surface, turbulent flow

1.33
C f  1/ 2 , Re  106 ,  / L  10  4
Re L
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Heat Transfer coefficient

• The general form of Nusselt numbers correlation

equations
NuL  c RemL Pr n

c, m, and n are constants depend on the flow and

boundary conditions

• Fluid properties are evaluated at mean film

temperature T T
Tf  s 
2
 Parallel flow over flat plate
• The local and average heat transfer coefficients
 The local heat transfer coefficient, hx, is heat
transfer coefficient at the point x measured from
the leading edge of the surface.
 The average convection heat transfer coefficient is
the average value from the leading edge to point x.

h h1 hL

x1 x L

12
 Parallel flow over flat plate
• The average convection heat transfer coefficient
also depends on the position, x. It is the average
value from the leading edge to point x.

hx1   hx dx
1 x1

hL   hx dx
x1 0 1 L

h L 0

0 x1 x L

13
 Parallel flow over flat plate
1. Constant surface temperature
Heat transfer coefficient
Local Nusselt number
hx x
Laminar : Nu x   0.332 Re1x/ 2 Pr1/ 3 Pr  0.6, Re x  5 105
k
hx x 0.6  Pr  60,
Turbulent : Nu x   0.0296 Re x Pr
0.8 1/ 3

k 5  105  Re x  107
• Average Nusselt number
hL
Laminar : Nu   0.664 Re1L/ 2 Pr1/ 3 Pr  0.6, Re L  5 105
k
hL 0.6  Pr  60,
Turbulent : Nu   0.037 Re L Pr
0.8 1/ 3

k 5 105  Re L  107
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Heat transfer coefficient (Flat plate uniform temperature)
• When both laminar and turbulent flow occur

 0.037 Re L  871Pr
hL 0.6  Pr  60,
Nu  0.8 1/ 3

k 5 105  Re L  107
• For materials with low Pr, such as liquid metal, velocity
boundary layer is very small

Nu x  0.565 Re x Pr 1/ 2
Pr  0.05, Pe x  100
• Generic correlation for all fluids

 
hx x 0.3387 Pr1/ 3 Re1x/ 2
Nu x   Re x Pr  100
k 1  0.00468 / Pr 
2 / 3 1/ 4
 Parallel flow over flat plate
2. Flat plate with unheated starting length

1 -  / x  1 -  / x  
Nu x (for  0) 0.332 Re1x/ 2 Pr1/ 3
Laminar : Nu x  
3 / 4 1/ 3 3 / 4 1/ 3

1 -  / x  1 -  / x 
Nu x (for  0) 0.0296 Re 0x.8 Pr1/ 3
Turbulent : Nu x  
9 / 10 1 / 9 9 / 10 1 / 9

• Average convection coefficient

Laminar : h 

2 1 -  / x 
3/ 4
h
1 -  / x 
 
x L

5 1 -  / x 
9 / 10
Turbulent : h 
41 -  / x 
hx  L
 Parallel flow over flat plate
3. Uniform heat flux
• When the flat is subjected to uniform heat flux, the local Nusselt
number become
U T∞
U
T
q
hx x
Laminar : Nu x   0.453 Re1x/ 2 Pr1/ 3 Pr  0.6, Re x  5 105
k
hx
Turbulent : Nu x  x  0.0308 Re0x.8 Pr1/ 3 0.6  Pr  60, 5 105  Re x  107
k
The surface temperature is not constant, It is obtained as follows:
q
q  hx (Ts  T )  Ts  T 
hx
 Examples to select Nusselt number
correlation equations

• To calculate the heat transfer rate at the point x1

0 x1

1. Rex smaller than 5x105 laminar

2. Rex greater than 5x105 turbulent
• To calculate the heat transfer rate of a plate from 0 to x1

0 x1

1. Rex smaller than 5x105

2. Rex smaller than 5x105

• To calculate the heat transfer rate in the region between

x1 to x2

0 x1 x2
 Steps to calculate convection heat
transfer rate — external flow
1. Use boundary condition to determine whether the
problem is constant temperature or constant heat
flux.

2. Calculate the film temperature :

Ts  T
Tf 
2
3. In general, the problem will ask you to calculate the
heat transfer rate or one of the two temperatures.

4. If one of the two temperatures is required to be

determined, its value is not given, assume one.
5. Get the physical properties of the coolant using the
film temperature
6. Calculate the Reynolds number
U L
Re 


- with artificial transition device — use turbulent

equation if
Re  5 x105
- without artificial transition device use laminar if

Re  5 x10 5
7. Choose the correct equation & calculate the Nusselt number
- Local value
- Average value over a distance

8. Calculate the heat transfer coefficient,

k
hL  NuL
L
9. Calculate the heat transfer rate or temperature. If the problem is
to determine one of the two temperatures, compare the
calculated value with the assumed one. If the difference between
the two is large, reassume one and repeat the calculation.

Q  hA(Ts  T )
10. Other form of external surfaces—empirical equations
 Example 1 Cooling a hot block at high
elevation by forced convection
The local atmospheric pressure in Denver, Colorado (elevation
1610 m), is 83.4 kPa. Air at this pressure and 20°C flows with a
velocity of 8 m/s over a 1.5 m x 6 m flat plate whose temp. is
140°C. Determine the rate of heat transfer from the plate if the
air flows parallel to the (a) 6-m-long side and (b) the 1.5-m side.
Example 7-1 Cooling a hot block at high
elevation by forced convection

• Given : A = 1.5m x 6m, T∞ = 20 oC, Ts = 140 oC, U =

8m/s,
p =83.7kPa, Q
V

• Find : the rate of heat transfer

(a) L = 6m
- The temperature for properties evaluation is:
Ts  T
Tf   80o C
2 24
 Example 7-1 Cooling a hot block at high
elevation by forced convection
- Properties of air , (see Table 15)
k= 0.02953W/mK, Pr =0.7154, μ = 2.096x10-5
(kg/m.s),

Note : the air density depends strongly on pressure,

Table 15 is good only for pressure at 1 bar = 101 kPa.
Other air properties is almost independent of pressure.
The kinematic viscosity requires to be corrected.

p 837000
p   RT      0.826kg / m3
RT 287x(273  80)
 p 2.096
p    2.53x105 (m2 / s)
 p 0.826
25
 Example 7-1 continued

- The flow is combined laminar and turbulent flow

UL 8 x6
Re L    1.9 x10 6
5 x105

 2.53 x105


- The average Nusselt number

hL L
NuL   (0.037 Re L5  871) Pr 3  2867
4 1

- The heat transfer coefficient

k 0.02953
hL  NuL  2867 x  13.2W / m 2 K
L 6

- The heat transfer rate

Q  hL A(Ts  T )  13.2 x6 x1.5 x (140  20)  14.3kW

27
Example 7-1 continued

(b) L = 1.5m

8x1.5
ReL   4.71 x10 5
5x105 laminar

2.548x10 5


hL L 1
NuL   0.644Re Pr3  408
0.5

k
k
hL  NuL  8.03W / m K 2

L
Q  hA(Ts T )  8.67kW
28
 Example 2 Uniform heat flux
board
A 15-cm x 15-cm circuit board dissipating 15 W of power
uniformly is cooled by air, which approaches the circuit
board at 20°C with a velocity of 5 m/s. Disregarding any
heat transfer from the back surface of the board,
determine the surface temperature of the electronic
components (a) at the leading edge and (b) at the end of
the board. Assume the flow to be turbulent since the
electronic components are expected to act as turbulators.

29
Example 7-2 Uniform heat flux board
Given: A = 15cm x 15cm, total power = 15W, the ambient
temperature = 20 oC, air velocity = 5m/s, The flow
is turbulent due to the disturbance of the electronic
devices. Consider one side of the board only.
Uniform heat flux.

Find : (a) surface temperature at x = 0

(b) surface temperature at x = L

Solution : Firstly we assume surface temperature is 100

oC

- Tf = 60oC
- Properties of fluid from Table A15.
k = 0.02808W/mK, v = 1.896x10-5m2/s, Pr
= 0.72
30
 Example 7-2 Uniform heat flux board

1
(a) hx  a , a  0, ,,, ,,, x  0, h    Ts  T
x

(b) The flow is turbulent (specified)

- At the end of the board x=0.15m, the local Nusselt
number is

Nu x  0.0308 Re0.8
L Pr1/ 3
 117.4
- the heat transfer coefficient at x = 0.15m from the
leading edge is

k 0.02808
hL  Nu x  117.4  23.2W / m 2 K
L 0.15
31
 Home work problem 7 - 24

- the surface temperature at x = L

Q 15
q    666.7W / m 2
A 0.15 x0.15
q  h(Ts  T )
666.7  23.2(Ts  10)
Ts  78.7o C

- reassume Ts = 85oC
the two results will be very close

32
 Methodology for solving problem
• Make assumptions
• Find properties based on film Ts  T
temperature, Tf. Tf 
2
• Calculate Reynolds number Vx Vx
Re x  
• Identify the type of flow based  
on Re obtained
• Calculate Cf/Nu by using kNu
suitable correlations h
L
• Determine h from calculated
Nu Q conv  hAs (Ts  T ) (W)

• Use the right equations V 2

FD  C D A (N)
2
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Example
Engine oil at 80C flows over 10-m-long flat plate whose
temperature is 30C with a velocity of 2.5 m/s. Determine the
total drag force and the rate of heat transfer over the entire
plate per unit width.
Assumption: 1) Steady operating condition, 2) Critical Re is 5x105,
3) Radiation effects are negligible
Ts  T 80C  30C
Tf    55C
2 2
At 55C and 1 atm the oil properties are (Table A13):
  867 kg/m 3   7.045 10 5 m 2 /s
k  0.1414 W/mC Pr  1551
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Solution:
Calculate Re
2.5 m/s 10 m 
7.045 105 m 2 /s 
VL
Re L    3.549 105  5 105

Average friction coefficient and drag force for laminar flow
Cf 
1.33
Re1L/ 2
 1.333. 549  10   0.002223
5 1/ 2

V 2
 0.02233(10 m )
(867 kg/m 3 )(2.5 m/s)
FD  C f A 2
 60.5 N
2 2
Calculate average Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient
 0.664 Re1L/ 2 Pr1/ 3  0.6643.549  105  1551  4579
hL
Nu 
1/ 2 1/ 3

k
k
h Nu  64.75 W/m 2 K
L
Heat transfer rate
Q conv  hAs (Ts  T )  32.4 kW
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Example
Air at 25C and 1 atm flows with velocity of 4 m/s over a 2 m  6 m
flat plate whose temperature is 115 C. Determine the rate of
heat transfer from the plate if the flow parallel to: a) 2 m long
side and b) 6 m long side.
Assumption: 1) Steady operating condition, 2) Critical Re is 5x105,
3) Radiation effects are negligible 4) Local atmospheric
pressure is 1 atm
Ts  T 115C  25C
Tf    70C
2 2
At 55C and 1 atm the air properties are (Table A15):
  1.028 kg/m 3   1.995 10 5 m 2 /s
k  0.02881 W/mC Pr  0.7177
 Parallel flow over flat plate
Solution: a) 2 m long side
Calculate Re
4 m/s 2 m 
1.995 10 m /s
VL
Re L    4.01 105  5 105
 5 2

Calculate Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient for laminar flow
hL
Nu   0.664 Re1L/ 2 Pr1/ 3
k
k
h Nu 
L

Heat transfer rate

Q conv  hAs (Ts  T )

 Parallel flow over flat plate
Solution: a) 6 m long side
Calculate Re
4 m/s 6 m 
1.995 10 m /s 
VL
Re L    1.2 106  5 105
 5 2

Calculate Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient

 0.037 Re 0L.8  871Pr1/ 3

hL
Nu 
k
k
h Nu 
L

Heat transfer rate

Q conv  hAs (Ts  T )