CHAPTER 7

Natural convection

Prof Madya Mohd Azmier Ahmad

Tel: +60 (4) 5996459
Email: chazmier@usm.my
Natural or free convection
➢ As a result of the motion of the fluid due to density change
arising from the heating process
➢ Movement of the fluid in free convection results from the
buoyancy forces imposed on the fluid when its density is changed

➢ Grashof number represents the ratio of g (Tw  T ) x 3

Gr 
the buoyant force to the viscous force; v2
1
➢ Thermal expansion coefficient ;  Tf
;  in K 1

➢ Rayleigh number; Ra = Gr.Pr

Determination of Free Convection HT

(i) Film temperature Tw  T

Tf 
2
(ii) Fluid properties at Tf (iv) Constants C &
(Appendix A) m (from Table 7.1)

(v) Nusselt number

(iii) Rayleigh number, Ra  Gr Pr
 g (Tw  T ) x 3
 Nu  C (Gr Pr)m
Gr Pr   2
 Pr for air at
 v  1 atm
(vi) HT coefficient
 g 2 c p  3 for water k
Gr Pr    x T h  Nu
 k  or fluid
  x
(vii) Heat Transfer
For water, take
this value from q  hA (Tw  T )
Table A9 Note: x is in vertical direction
 Example 7.1 (HT from vertical plate in air)
A large vertical plate 4.0 m high and 10 m wide is maintained at
60°C and exposed to atmospheric air at 10°C. Calculate the HT.

Solution
First calculate Tfilm T  Tw  T  60  10  35o C  308K
f
2 2
Then find the properties
1 1
   3.25 x10 3 Pr  0.7 v  16.5x10 6 m 2 / s k  0.02685 W / m.o C
T f 308

Calculate Gr.Pr
 g (Tw  T ) x 3   (9.8)(3.25 x10 3 )(60  10)(4) 3 
Gr Pr    Pr  0.7  2.62 x1011
2   6 2 
 v   (16.5 x10 ) 

From Table 7.1, C = 0.1; m = 1/3

Nusselt number
1
Nu  C (Gr Pr) m
 (0.10)(2.62 x10 )
11 3
 639.9

HT coefficient

k (639.9)(0.02685)
h  Nu   4.3 W / m 2 .K
d 4

The HT is therefore

q  hA (Tw  T )  (4.3)(4)(10)(60  10)  8590.6W

Example 7.2 (HT from vertical cylinder in air)
A vertical cylinder 1.8 m high and 7.5 cm in diameter is maintained
at a temperature of 93oC in an atmospheric environment of 30oC.
Calculate the heat lost by free convection from this cylinder.
Solution
First calculate Tfilm Tw  T 93  30
Tf    61.5o C  334.5K
2 2
Then find the properties
1 1
   2.99 x103 Pr  0.7 v  19.19 x106 m2 / s k  0.0289 W / m.o C
T f 334.5

Calculate Gr.Pr
 g (Tw  T ) x 3   (9.8)(2.99 x103 )(93  30)(1.8)3 
Gr Pr    Pr   
0.7  2.05 x1010
2   (19.19 x106 ) 2 
 v 

From Table 7.1, C = 0.1; m = 1/3

Nusselt number
1
Nu  C (Gr Pr)  (0.10)(2.05x10 )
m 10 3
 271.5

HT coefficient

k (271.5)(0.0289)
h  Nu   4.39 W / m 2 .K
x 1.8
The HT is therefore

q  hA (Tw  T )  (4.39) (0.075)(1.8)(93  30)  117.4W

Note: A=πdL
Example 7.3 (HT from horizontal tube in water).
A 2.0 cm diameter horizontal heater (cylinder) is maintained at a
surface temperature of 38°C and submerged in water at 27°C.
Calculate the free-convection heat loss per unit length of the heater.
Solution
Film temperature; Tw  T 38  27
Tf    32.5 o C
2 2
The water properties;
k  0.630 W / m.K

Calculate GrPr;
2.48x1010 (From Table A9)

 g 2c p  3
Gr Pr    x T
 k 
 
 (2.48x1010 )(0.02)3 (38  27)  2.18x106
From Table 7.1, C = 0.53; m = ¼

Nusselt number
1
Nu  C (Gr Pr)  (0.53)(2.18x10 )
m 6 4
 20.36

HT coefficient k (20.36)(0.63)
h  Nu   642 W / m 2 .K
d 0.02

The HT per unit length is therefore

q
 hd (Tw  T )  (642) (0.02)(38  27)  443W / m
L

Note: A=πdL
Example 7.4 (HT from horizontal fine wire in air)
A horizontal fine wire having a diameter of 0.02 mm is maintained at
a constant temperature of 54°C by an electric current. The wire is
exposed to air at 1 atm and 0°C. Calculate the electric power
necessary to maintain the wire temperature if the length is 50 cm.
Solution
Film temperature ; Tw  T 54  0
Tf    27 o C  300 K
2 2
Air properties
  1300  3.33x103 Pr  0.708
k  0.02624 W / m.K v  15.69 x106 m2 / s

Calculate GrPr
 g (Tw  T ) x 3   (9.8)(3.33x103 )(54  0)(0.02 x103 )3 
Gr Pr    Pr  0.708  4.05 x105
2  6
(15.69 x10 ) 2 
 v   
From Table 7.1, C = 0.675; m = 0.058
Nusselt number

Nu  C (Gr Pr)m  (0.675)(4.05x105 )0.058  0.375

HT coefficient
k (0.375)(0.02624)
h  Nu  3
 492.6 W / m 2
.K
x 0.02 x10
The HT is therefore

q  hA (Tw  T )
 (492.6) (0.02 x103 )(0.5)(54  0)  0.836W

Note: A=πdL
Example 7.5 (Heated horizontal, pipe in air).
A horizontal pipe 0.3048m in diameter is maintained at a
temperature of 250°C in a room where the ambient air is at 15°C.
Calculate the free-convection heat loss per meter of length.
Solution
Film temperature; Tw  T 250  15
Tf    132.5o C  405.5K
2 2
Air properties
  1 405.5  2.47 x103 Pr  0.687

k  0.03406 W / m.o C v  26.54 x106 m2 / s

Calculate GrPr
 g (Tw  T )d 3 
Gr Pr   2
 Pr
 v 
 (9.8)(2.47 x103 )(250  15)(0.3048)3 
  6 2

0.687  1.571x108

 ( 26.54 x10 ) 
From Table 7.1, C = 0.53; m = ¼

Nusselt number
1
Nu  C (Gr Pr)  (0.53)(1.571x10 ) 4  59.4
m 8

HT coefficient
k (59.4)(0.03406)
h  Nu   6.63 W / m 2 .K
d 0.3048

The HT per unit length is therefore

q
 hd (Tw  T )  (6.63) (0.3048)(250  15)  1.49kW / m
L
Example 7.6 (HT from vertical plate in helium).
Calculate the free convection heat loss from a 0.61 m square vertical
plate maintained at 100oC and exposed to helium at 20°C and a
pressure of 2 atm (Given R for He = 2078 J/kg.K = 2078 Nm/kg.K).
Solution
Film temperature; T f  Tw  T  100  20  60o C  333K
2 2
Helium properties;
  1 / 333  3x103 ; k  0.159 W / m.K ; Pr  0.7; c  5.2kJ / kg.K
(2)(1.01x105 N / m 2 )
  0.293kg / m3
(2078 Nm / kg.K )(333K )
Calculate GrPr
 g 2c p  3
Gr Pr    x T
 k 
 
 (9.8)(3x103 )(0.293) 2 (5.2 x103 )(0.61)3 (100  20) 
  7

  6.94 x10 7

 ( 216 x10 )(0.159) 

From Table 7.1, C = 0.59; m = ¼

Nusselt number
1
Nu  C (Gr Pr)  (0.59)(6.94 x10 )
m 7 4
 53.85

HT coefficient k (53.85)(0.159)
h  Nu   14 W / m 2 .K
x 0.61

The HT per unit length is therefore

q  hA(Tw  T )  (14)(0.61) 2 (100  20)  417W

Free Convection in enclosed spaces
T1 T2
q
T1  T2
(i)Mean temperature Tmean 
2

(ii) Fluid properties at Tf (Appendix A)
(iv) Constants C, m &
(iii) Rayleigh number, Ra  Gr Pr n (fromTable 7.3)

 g (T1  T2 ) 3  (v) Effective thermal

Gr Pr    Pr for air at
 v 2
 conductivity
1 atm m
 L
 g 2 c p  3 ke  kC(Gr Pr) n  
Gr Pr    T for water  
 k 
  or fluid
(vii) Heat Transfer
For water, take ke A(T1  T2 )
this value from q
Table A9

Example 7.7 (HT across vertical air gap)
Air at atmospheric pressure is contained between two 0.5-m-
square vertical plates separated by a distance of 15 mm. The
temperatures of the plates are 100 and 40°C, respectively.
Calculate the free-convection HT across the air space.
Solution
T1  T2 100  40
Mean temperature; T
mean    70 o
C  343K
2 2
Air properties; 1 1
   2.915 x103 K 1 Pr  0.7
Tmean 343
k  0.0295 W / m.K v  19.85x106 m2 / s

Calculate Gr.Pr  g (T1  T2 ) 3 

Gr Pr   2
 Pr
 v 
 (9.8)(2.915 x103 )(100  40)(0.015)3 
  
0.7  1.027 x10 4

 (19.85 x106 ) 2 
From Table 7.3, C = 0.197; m = -1/9; n = ¼

Calculate the effective thermal conductivity, ke

m
 L
ke  kC(Gr Pr) n  
  1

4
0.5  9

 (0.0295)(0.197)(1.027 x10 )   0.0396

1

4

 0.015 
The HT is therefore

ke A(T1  T2 ) Area = (0.5)2 = 0.25m2

q

(0.0396)(0.25)(100  40)
  39.62 W
0.015
Example 7.8 (HT across horizontal air gap)
Two horizontal square plates 20 cm on a side are separated by a
distance of 1 cm with air at 1 atm in the space. The temperatures
of the plates are 100°C for the lower and 40°C for the upper
plate. Calculate the HT across the air space.
Solution
T1  T2 100  40
Mean temperature; Tmean    70o C  343K
2 2
Air properties 1 1
   2.915 x103 Pr  0.7
Tmean 343
k  0.0295 W / m.K v  19.85x106 m2 / s

Calculate GrPr  g (T1  T2 ) 3 

Gr Pr   2
 Pr
 v 
 (9.8)(2.915 x10 3 )(100  40)(0.01)3 
  6 2
0.7  3043
 (19.85 x10 ) 
 From Table 7.3, C = 0.059; m = 0; n = 0.4.

Calculate the effective thermal conductivity

m
 L
ke  kC(Gr Pr)  n

 
0
 0.2 
 (0.0295)(0.059)(3043) 0.4    0.0431
 0.01 
The HT is therefore

k e A(T1  T2 ) Area = (0.2)2 = 0.04m2

q

(0.0431)(0.04)(100  40)
  10.34 W
0.01
Example 7.9 (HT across water layer)
Two 50-cm horizontal square plates are separated by a distance of
1 cm. The lower plate is maintained at a constant temperature of
37.75°C & the upper plate is constant at 26.65°C. Water at
atmospheric pressure occupies the space between the plates.
Calculate the heat lost by the lower plate.

Solution
T  T 37.75  26.65
Mean temperature; Tmean  1 2   32.2o C
2 2
Water properties
g 2 c p From
k  0.623 W / m.K  2.48 x10
10

k Table 7.1

Calculate GrPr;  g 2 c p  3

Gr Pr    T
 k 
 
 (2.48x1010 )(0.01)3 (37.75  26.65)  2.76 x105
From Table 7.3, C = 0.13; m = 0; n = 0.3.
Calculate the effective thermal conductivity
m
 L
ke  kC(Gr Pr)   n

 
0
 0.05 
 (0.623)(0.13)( 2.76 x10 )  5
  3.47
0.3

 0.01 
The HT is therefore

k e A(T1  T2 ) Area = (0.5)2 = 0.25m2

q

(3.47)(0.25)(37.75  26.65)
  962.9 W
0.01
 COMBINE FREE & FORCED CONVECTION (Figure 7.16)

Graetz
number
d
Gz  Re Pr
L
Example 7.10 (Combine free & forced convection with air).
Air at 1 atm and 27°C is forced through a horizontal 25-mm-diameter
tube at an average velocity of 30 cm/s. The tube wall is maintained at a
constant temperature of 140°C. Calculate the HT coefficient for this
situation if the tube is 0.4 m long.
Solution
The film temperature is Tw  T 140  27
Tf    83.5 o C  356.5K
2 2
Air properties k  0.0305 W / m.K  w  2.337 x10 5 kg / m.s   0.99kgm3
Pr  0.695  f  2.102 x10 5 kg / m.s

Significant parameter for Figure 7.16

ud (0.99)(0.3)(0.025)
Re    353
 2.102 x10 5
d  2  d Mixed convection
Gr Pr   2 g (Tw  Tb )d 3  Pr flow regime (Fig.
L   L
(0.99) 2 (9.8)(2.805 x103 )(140  27)(0.025)3 0.025 7.16)
 ( 0.695)
(2.102 x105 ) 2 0.4
 4677
Additional parameter, Graetz number, Gz

d (353)(0.695)(0.025)
Gz  Re Pr   15.33
L 0.4
Nusselt number
0.14
  Gz  0.012(GzGr 3 ) 1 4

1
3
Nu  1.75 b  3
 
 w 
0.14 1
 1.8462  15.33  0.012[(15.33)(1.077 x10 5 ) 3 ) 3 1 4 3
 1.75   7.7
 2.337   

HT coefficient

k (7.7)(0.0305)
h  Nu   9.40 W / m 2 .K
d 0.025