FORMULA SHEET

1. Approximate Analytical Solutions to One-Dimensional Transient Heat Conduction Equation

a. To solve the temperature at any point within an object

a.1. Plane wall with a thickness 2L
𝑇(𝑥, 𝑡) − 𝑇∞ 2 1 𝑥
𝜃𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = = 𝐴1 𝑒 −1 𝜏 cos ( )
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞ 𝐿
a.2. Long cylinder with a radius 𝑟𝑜
𝑇(𝑟, 𝑡) − 𝑇∞ 2 1 𝑟
𝜃𝑐𝑦𝑙 = = 𝐴1 𝑒 −1 𝜏 𝐽0 ( )
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞ 𝑟0
a.3. Sphere with a radius 𝑟𝑜
 𝑟
𝑇(𝑟, 𝑡) − 𝑇∞ 2
sin ( 𝑟1 )
𝜃𝑠𝑝ℎ = = 𝐴1 𝑒 −1 𝜏 0
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞ 1 𝑟
𝑟0
b. To solve the temperature at the center of a plane wall, cylinder, or sphere
𝑇0 − 𝑇∞ 2
𝜃𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = = 𝐴1 𝑒 −1 𝜏
𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇∞
c. To solve the actual amount of heat transferred up to a time t
c.1. Plane wall with a thickness 2L
𝑄 sin 1
( ) = 1 − 𝜃0,𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 1
c.2. Cylinder with a radius 𝑟𝑜
𝑄 𝐽1(1 )
( ) = 1 − 2𝜃0,𝑐𝑦𝑙
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑐𝑦𝑙 1
c.3. Sphere with a radius 𝑟𝑜
𝑄 sin 1 − 1 cos 1
( ) = 1 − 3𝜃0,𝑠𝑝ℎ
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑠𝑝ℎ 1 3

2. Local Nusselt number at a distance x from the leading edge of a flat plate

a. Laminar flow
ℎ𝑥 𝑥
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 𝑘
= 0.332𝑅𝑒𝑥0.5 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for 𝑃𝑟 > 0.6 and 𝑅𝑒𝑥 < 5𝑥105

b. Turbulent flow
ℎ𝑥 𝑥
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 𝑘
= 0.0296𝑅𝑒𝑥0.8 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for 0.6 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 60 and 5𝑥105 ≤ 𝑅𝑒𝑥 ≤ 107

3. Average Nusselt number for parallel flow over a flat plate with a length L

a. For laminar flow over the entire plate

𝑁𝑢 = 0.664𝑅𝑒𝐿 0.5 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for 𝑅𝑒𝐿 < 5𝑥105 and 𝑃𝑟 > 0.6

b. For turbulent flow over the entire plate

𝑁𝑢 = 0.037𝑅𝑒𝐿 0.8 𝑃𝑟1/3 for 5𝑥105 ≤ 𝑅𝑒𝐿 ≤ 107 and 0.6 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 60
4. Local Nusselt number at a distance x from the leading edge of a flat plate subjected to uniform
heat flux

a. Laminar flow
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 0.453𝑅𝑒𝑥 0.5 𝑃𝑟 1⁄3 for 𝑃𝑟 > 0.6 and 𝑅𝑒𝑥 < 5𝑥105

b. Turbulent flow
𝑁𝑢𝑥 = 0.0308𝑅𝑒𝑥 0.8 𝑃𝑟1/3 for 0.6 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 60 and 5𝑥105 ≤ 𝑅𝑒𝑥 ≤ 107

5. Average Nusselt number for cross flow over a cylinder

0.62𝑅𝑒 1/2 𝑃𝑟 1/3 𝑅𝑒 5/8 4/5
𝑁𝑢𝑐𝑦𝑙 = 0.3 + 1/4 [1 + (282,000) ] for 𝑅𝑒𝑃𝑟 > 0.2
[1+(0.4⁄𝑃𝑟)2/3 ]

6. Average Nusselt number for cross flow over a sphere

𝜇 1/4
𝑁𝑢𝑠𝑝ℎ = 2 + [0.4𝑅𝑒1/2 + 0.06𝑅𝑒 2/3 ]𝑃𝑟 0.4 ( 𝜇∞ )
𝑠
for 3.5 ≤ 𝑅𝑒 ≤ 8𝑥104 , 0.7 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 380, and 1.0 ≤ (𝜇∞ ⁄𝜇𝑠 ) ≤ 3.2

7. Nusselt number for developing laminar flow in the entrance region under constant surface
temperature condition
a. For 𝑃𝑟 ≥ 5
𝐷
0.065 ( 𝐿 ) 𝑅𝑒𝑃𝑟
𝑁𝑢 = 3.66 +
1 + 0.04[(𝐷⁄𝐿)𝑅𝑒𝑃𝑟]2/3
𝜇𝑏
b. For 0.6 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 < 5 and 0.0044 ≤ 𝜇𝑠
≤ 9.75
𝑅𝑒 Pr 𝐷 1/3 𝜇𝑏 0.14
𝑁𝑢 = 1.86 ( ) ( )
𝐿 𝜇𝑠

8. Modified Gnielinski correlation for average Nusselt number for fully developed turbulent flow in
smooth tubes
(𝑓⁄8)(𝑅𝑒 − 1000)𝑃𝑟
𝑁𝑢 =
1 + 12.7(𝑓⁄8)0.5 (𝑃𝑟 2/3 − 1)
For 0.5 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 2000 and 3𝑥103 < 𝑅𝑒 < 5𝑥106

9. Explicit first Petukhov equation for friction factor for smooth tubes
𝑓 = (0.790 ln 𝑅𝑒 − 1.64)−2

For 3000 < 𝑅𝑒 < 5𝑥106

10. Abraham correlation for friction factor for fully developed transitional flow in smooth round
pipes

𝑓 = 3.03 𝑥 10−12 𝑅𝑒 3 − 3.67 𝑥 10−8 𝑅𝑒 2 + 1.46 𝑥 10−4 𝑅𝑒 − 0.151

For 2300 < 𝑅𝑒 < 4500