ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.

MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,

THANJAVUR.

UNIT II
CONVECTION
SYLLABUS
SYLLABUS
Free and Forced Convection – Hydrodynamic and Thermal Boundary Layer. Free and
Forced Convection during external flow over plates and cylinders and internal flow through
tubes.

CONVECTION

The process of heat transfer between a solid surface and a fluid flowing in contact with it is
called convection.

TYPES:

(i) Forced Convection

(ii) Free Convection

Forced Convection:

• If the fluid flow is caused by an external device like a pump or blower, it is termed as
forced convection.

Free Convection:

If the flow is caused by the buoyant forces generated by heating or cooling of the
fluid the process is called as natural or free convection.

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 ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,
THANJAVUR.

Convection: Newton’s law of cooling

“Heat transfer rate is directly proportional to area exposed for heat transfer and temperature
difference”

Q α A ∆T

Q = h A ∆T

Where,

h- Local Convective Heat transfer co-efficient in W/m2k

A- Area in m2

∆T- Temperature difference in k

Convective Heat transfer co-efficient:

Convective heat transfer coefficient is influenced by:

(i) Fluid properties like density, viscosity and other thermal properties like specific heat
conductivity

(ii) Flow velocity and

(iii) Surface geometry.

Boundary layer concept

Concept of boundary layer as proposed by Prandtl.

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 ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,
THANJAVUR.

In boundary layer concept the flow field over a body is divided into two regions:

(i) A thin region near a body, called the boundary layer, where the velocity and
temperature gradients are large

(ii) The region outside the boundary layer where velocity and temperature gradients are
very nearly equal to their free stream value.

Types:

(a) Velocity boundary layer (or)

Hydro-dynamic boundary layer

(b) Thermal boundary layer.

CONCEPT OF VELOCITY BOUNDARY LAYER:

Let,

U – Velocity of the fluid

U∞- Free stream velocity (or)

Velocity of the fluid near the surface

x – Distance from the leading edge

ζ - Shear stress

δ – Boundary layer thickness

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 ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,
THANJAVUR.

Boundary layer thickness:

Boundary layer thickness is defined as “The distance perpendicular to the flow direction
up to which the velocity of the fluid is equal to 99% of the free stream velocity”

The model characteristics of the flow as consisting of two distinct regions:

(i) A thin boundary layer in which the velocity gradients, shear stresses are large and

(ii) the remaining region outside of the boundary layer where the velocity gradients and shear
stresses are negligibly small. This is also called potential flow.

CONCEPT OF THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER:

Let,

T – Temperature of the fluid

T∞ - Temperature of the fluid in the surface (or) Free-stream temperature

x – Distance from the leading edge

ζ - Shear stress

δT – Thermal boundary layer thickness

Thermal boundary layer thickness:

Thermal boundary layer thickness is defined as “The distance perpendicular to the flow
direction up to which the temperature of the fluid is equal to 99% of the free stream
temperature.

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 ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,
THANJAVUR.

Velocity boundary layer automatically forms when a real fluid flows over a surface, but
thermal boundary layer will develop only when the fluid temperature is different from the
surface temperature.

LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOW;

(Variation of local heat transfer co-efficient along the flow)

Laminar flow:

Fluid particles are well ordered and streamlines along flow direction. The velocity
at any point in the flow field remains steady. This type of flow is known as laminar flow.

Turbulent flow:

Fluid particles are moves in a random manner in the flow field then the flow is
known as turbulent flow.

Newtonian and Non Newtonian Fluids

The fluids which obey Newton’s law of viscosity are called the Newtonian fluids.

The fluids which do not obey Newton’s law of viscosity are called the Non Newtonian fluids

Dimensional numbers and their physical significance

Please refer HMT Data Book Page No 112 (Eighth Edition)

(Reynolds Number, Nusselt Number, Prandtl Number, Grashof Number and
Stanton Number)
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 ME6502 HMT, PREPARED BY R.BHARATHIKANNA & M.MURUGANANDAM, AP, SJCET,
THANJAVUR.

Procedure for forced convection problems on external flow of fluid over a flat plate,
cylinder and sphere:(parallel flow)

1. Check velocity is given or not

2. If velocity is given, then it is forced convection problem.

3. Check whether the given flow is external flow or internal flow

(a) Heat transfer calculation:

1. Calculate Film temperature. (i.e.)Average of surface temperature & fluid temperature.

2. Take the properties of fluid from the data book.

3. Calculate Reynolds number. Compare with the limiting Reynolds number to find out type
of flow

4. Calculate Nusselt number value for the condition obtained. (i.e.)Laminar flow or
turbulent flow.

5. Determine local heat transfer coefficient value from the Nusselt number.

6. Determine Average convective heat transfer coefficient value

7. Then, Calculate Heat transfer rate from average heat transfer co-efficient value

8. Then Calculate the followings with the formula avail in the data book

a. Hydro-dynamic boundary layer thickness

b. Thermal boundary layer thickness
c. Local friction co-efficient
d. Average friction co-efficient
e. Shear stress due to friction
f. Total drag force
g. Total mass flow rate through the boundary.

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