Natural convection

Convection divided into two basic processes

a) forced convection

b) natural convection

* the flow arises “naturally” from the effect of a density

difference,
resulting from a temperature or concentration difference in a
body force field such as gravity.

* The density difference gives rise to buoyancy forces due to

which the flow is generated.
The main difference between natural and forced convection lies
in the mechanism by which flow is generated.

In forced convection, externally imposed flow is generally known.

In natural convection it results from an interaction of the density
difference with the gravitational (or some other body force) field
and is therefore inevitably linked with and dependent on the
temperature and/or concentration fields.

Determination of motion.
The motion determined from a consideration of the
- heat and mass transfer process
- coupled with fluid flow mechanisms.
- velocities and the pressure differences
Natural convection flow over a vertical surface

Natural convection flow over a vertical surface

Boundary layer development on a heated vertical plate.
(a) Velocity and temperature profiles in the boundary layer at
the location x. (b) Boundary layer transitional flow conditions.
Natural Convection
-fluid motion is induced by density differences

- ‘h’ related to the buoyancy and the thermal properties of the fluid through
the Rayleigh number Ra,

 2  gC p 3 g 3
Ra  L T  L T
k 
the fluid properties are evaluated at the fluid bulk temperature.
k
h  C ( Ra ) n (W / m 2 k )
L
where n = 0.25 for 103 < Ra < 109, representing laminar flow;
= 0.33 for 109 < Ra < 1012, the transition to turbulent flow;
and = 0.4 for Ra > 1012, when strong turbulent flow prevails.
C = 0.45 to 0.65 for laminar flow and 0.11 to 0.15 for turbulent flow past the
heated surface
 Some empirical relations
hL
The Nusselt number, Nu: Nu 
k
kinematic vis cos ity  
Pr   
The Prandtl number, Pr : thermal diffusivity  k
C p
 C p C p
 
k k
Inertia Force
Gr  buoyant Force x
(viscous force)2
The Grashof number, Gr:
V 2 L2
 (  L3 g T )x
( VL)2
L3 2  g T

2

U L
The Reynolds number Re Re  

Nu=f (Gr.Pr)  C.(Gr )a (Pr)b  C (Gr.Pr) m
constant C depends upon
- nature of flow
- geometrical configuration
- its orientation
for Laminar flow 104  (Gr.Pr)  109
for Turbulent flow (Gr.Pr) > 109
(Gr.Pr) is also called as Rayleigh Number

1. If {GrL/Re2L}≤ 1, it is Forced convection.

2. If {GrL/Re2L} >> 1, it is Free convection.

3. If {GrL/Re2L} = 1, it is Mixed convection

(A) Vertical Plates and large cylinders
i) Laminar flow; 104  (Gr.Pr) 109
Nu  0.59(Gr.Pr)1/4

ii) Turbulent flow; 109  (Gr.Pr) 1012

Nu  0.13(Gr.Pr)1/3

All fluid properties @ film temprature & Re at characteristic length.

(B) Horizontal Plates wires and cylinders

(a) upper surface heated

i) Laminar flow; 105  (Gr.Pr)  2 x107
Nu  0.54(Gr.Pr)1/4

ii) Turbulent flow; 2x107  (Gr.Pr)  3x1010

Nu  0.14(Gr.Pr)1/3

All fluid properties @ film temprature & Re at characteristic length.

(B) Horizontal Plates wires and cylinders

(b)Plate lower surface heated

i) Laminar; 3x105  Gr.Pr  3 x1010

Nu  0.27(Gr.Pr)1/4

ii) Turbulent flow; 7x106  (Gr.Pr)  11x1010

Nu  0.107(Gr.Pr)1/3

All fluid properties @ film temprature & Re at characteristic length.

(C) Long Cylinders L/D>60

i) Laminar flow; 104  (Gr.Pr)109

Nu  0.53 (Gr.Pr)0.25

ii ) Turbulent Flow;109  (Gr.Pr)  1012

Nu  0.13(Gr.Pr)1/3
In general Nu = Constant x (Gr x Pr)m

Geometry Gr * Pr Constant m
Vertical Planes & cylinders 104 -109 0.59 ¼
109 -1013 0.021, 0.1 2/5, 1/3
Horizontal Cylinders 0 -10-5 0.4 0
104 -109 0.53 ¼
109 -1012 13 1/3
10-10 -10-2 0.675 0.058
10-2 -102 1.02 0.148
102 -104 0.85 1.88
104 -107 0.48 ¼
107 -1012 0.125 1/3
Upper surface heated or lower surface cooled 8 x 106-1011 0.15 1/3
Lower surface heated or upper surface cooled 105-1011 0.27 ¼
Vertical/ Horizontal Cylinder, Diameter 104 -106 0.775 0.21
Correlation Selection Rules.
• Identify the flow surface geometry.
Does the problem involve flow over a flat plate, a cylinder, or a sphere? Or
flow through a tube of circular or non-circular cross-sectional area?
• Specify the appropriate reference temperature and evaluate the pertinent
fluid properties at that temperature.
For moderate boundary layer temperature differences,
the film temperature, Tf, defined as the average of the surface and free
stream temperatures.
• Calculate the Reynolds number.
Using the appropriate characteristic length, calculate the Reynolds number
to determine the boundary layer flow conditions. If the geometry is the flat
plate in parallel flow, determine whether the flow is laminar, turbulent, or
mixed.
• Decide whether a local or surface average coefficient is required.
The local coefficient is used to determine the heat flux at a point on the
surface; the average coefficient is used to determine the heat transfer rate
for the entire surface.
• Select the appropriate correlation.
The Churchill-Chu correlation may be applied over the entire
range of RaL
2

 0.387 Ra1/6 

Nu  0.825  L
9/16 8/ 27


 1  (0.492 / Pr)   

For laminar flow RaL  10 9

2
 0.387 Ra1/6 
Nu  0.825  L
9/16 8/27

 1  (0.492 / Pr)  
Summary of Free Convection Correlations for Immersed Geometries
 Analytical solution
Flow over a Heated Vertical Plate in Air
Edge of
thermal &

Turbulent Flow
x
momentum
TW boundary
Temp
Buoyant layered
Profile
Force
Velocity C D
Viscous
Profile
Force

dx
A

Laminar Flow
g B

Heated dy
Plate

Control volume for heated

vertical plate
 Assumptions:
1. The flow is steady, Laminar and two dimensional.
2. The temperature difference between the plate and the fluid is small to
moderate. Hence the fluid may be treated as having constant properties.
3. The fluid is incompressible. (exception variable density in buoyancy force)
4. Boundary layer approximation.

Inertia force = buoyancy force + friction force

In case of,
Low Prandtl Number (liquid metals): Viscous effects are small.
High Prandtl Number (heavy oils): inertia effects are small.
With increase in Prandtl Number: Maximum vertical velocity decreases.
: δt decreases.
: Thus there is higher heat transfer.
Governing Equations

1. Continuity :
u v
 0
x y
2. x  momentum :
u v 1 p  2u X
u v  v 2 
x y  x y 
where X  body force per unit volume    g
3. Energy :
T T k T 2
u v 
x y  C p y 2
Governing Equations

The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u v 1 p  2u X
u v  v 2 
x y  x y 
where X  body force per unit volume    g
u v 1 p u 2
u  v    v 2  g
x y  x y
From layer approximations
p p
 0 and    g
y x
 Let us evaluate pressure gradient term.
u→0, ρ→ρ∞ where ρ∞ is density outside the boundary layer.
p
     g
x
The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u v 1  2u
u  v   (   g )  g  v 2
x y  y
u v g  2u
or u  v  (    )  v 2
x y  y
g
(    ) is the buoyancy force

& var iable  originates flow.
Let β be the volumetric Thermal Expansion Coefficient
1   
   
  T  p
 provides a measure of
the amount by which the density changes
in response to change in temperature at const ' p '
p    pT
1 
   
  T  T  p
for perfect gas   p / RT
1 p  1 p 1
    
  T   RT 2
T
where T is absolute temperature
The reduced x-momentum equation is written as

u v u 2
u  v  g  (T  T )  v 2
x y      y
    Buoyancy
Inertia Friction

The presence of temperature in the buoyancy term of the

momentum equation couples the flow to the temperature.
But the overall Mass and Energy Conservation equation remain
unchanged.
Thus the set of Governing Equations are summarized as

1. Continuity :
u v
 0
x y
2. x  momentum :
u v  2u
u  v  g  T  T   v 2
x y y
3.Energy
T T k  2T
u v 
x y  C p y 2
T T  2T
u v   2
x y y
The momentum and energy equation in free convection are
coupled and a solution for velocity profile demands the
knowledge of temperature distribution.
The two equations now needs to be solved simultaneously.
This makes the problem of Natural Convection more
complicated

Now let us non-dimensionlising the equations.

 x  y
x  ,y 
L L
 u  v  T  T
u  ,v  &T 
uo vo Ts  T
where L  characteristic length and u ois reference velocity
Thus the set of Governing Equations are summarized as

1. Continuity :
u  v

  0
x y
2. x  momentum :

u  u 
 v
v  

g  T  T  
T 
1  2 
u

x y uo 2
Re L y 2
3.Energy
  2 
 T  T 1  T
u 
v 

x y Re L Pr y 2
Limitation of Analytical Solution

Except for the analytical solution for flow over a flat

plate, experimental measurements are required to
evaluate the heat transfer coefficient.
Since in free convection systems, the velocity at the
surface of wall and the edge of the boundary layer is
zero and its magnitude within the boundary layer is so
small , it is very difficult to measure them.
Expression for ‘h’ for a heated Vertical Cylinder in
Air

The characteristic length used for Gr and Pr is Height

of the surface.
If δ is not too large compared with the diameter of the
cylinder, ‘h’ can be evaluated by using expressions for
vertical Plate.
That is, when D/L ≥35/(GrL)0.25
These results are irrespective of whether TW>T∞ or TW <T∞

If 104 ≤ GrXPr ≤ 109 ……………..

The solution is valid.
If GrXPr <104 ……………..
The solution is no longer valid.
If GrXPr >109 ……………..
The turbulence takes over.

It is also seen that,

Pr ≤ 1, δt = δ.
Pr > 1, δt = δ
Local Nusselt Number, NuX = {GrX/4}0.25.g(Pr)
for entire range of Pr
0.5
0.75 Pr
g . Pr 
0.5 0.25
(0.609  1.221 Pr  1.238 Pr)
Characteristic Length

Orientation Characteristic Length

Vertical/Inclined Plate L

Horizontal L
Surface Area of Plate
Perimeter of Plate

L H LV
Rectangular Blocks L
L H  LV

Vertical Cylinder If
D

35
vertical cylinder can be
L GrL 0.25
treated as vertical plate
Problem:
A 0.5 m high flat plate of glass at 93 0C is removed from an annealing
furnace and hung vertically in the air at 28 0C, 1 atm. Calculate the initial
rate of heat transfer to the air. The plate is 1 m wide.

Solution:

1. Q = hL A (Tw - T∞) ……….. →h

2. hL => (avg)NuL,
3. (avg)NuL = 4/3 NuL, …………..—> NuL

4. Local Nusselt Number, NuX = {GrX/4}0.25.g(Pr)

5. Calculate Gr and Pr.

6. Decide if flow is laminar or turbulent, calculate (avg)Nu, (avg)h and
then Q
Solution:
Gr =7.44 x 108,
Pr = 0.701,
NuL = 58.27,
(avg)NuL= 77.69,
(avg) h = 4.465 w/m^2 K
and Q = 145.1 W
Free Convection from Other Geometries
a) Inclined Plate

If θ is the angle of inclination from the vertical.

+θ : upward-facing heated surface

-θ : downward-facing heated surface

Correlations for vertical surface can be used by replacing ‘g’

with ‘g cos θ’ in the range of +200 to -600
b) For Spheres
Nu = 2+0.43(Gr.Pr)0.25
For 3 x 105 <(Gr.Pr) < 8x1010 ;Nu = 2+0.50(Gr.Pr)0.25
c) For Short Cylinders (D=H)

Nu = 0.775 (Gr.Pr)0.208

d) For Other Solids

Nu = 0.52 (Gr.Pr)0.25