4.

2 The Boundary Layer Concept: Simplification of the Governing Equations 109

4.2.5 Simplification of the Energy Equation

We now simplify the energy equation for two-dimensional constant
properties flow by neglecting higher order terms in equation (2.19)

§ wT wT · § w 2T w 2T ·
U c 5 ¨¨ u v ¸ k¨  ¸. (2.19)
© wx wy ¸¹ ¨© wx 2 wy 2 ¸¹

(i) Intuitive Argument

We wish to determine if one of the conduction terms in (2.19),
w 2T / wx 2  w 2T / wy 2 , is small compared to the other. Returning to the
small insect of Fig. 4.2., we pretend that the surface is hot and the fluid is at
a lower temperature. The insect is placed at location 0 inside the thermal
boundary layer shown in Fig. 4.2. It finds the environment too hot and
wishes to move to a cooler location. It is allowed to take a small step to
location 1, 2, 3, or 4. Where would you advise the insect to go? If your
answer is to location 2, you are correct. This is interpreted as recognizing
that temperature changes in the y-direction are much more pronounced than
changes in the x-direction. To evaluate the relative magnitudes of
w 2T / wx 2 and w 2T / wy 2 , additional observations are required. Imagine
that the insect is initially near the surface. Taking a step away from the
surface brings significant relief. However, taking a step in the x-direction
brings minor change in temperature. Suppose instead the insect is near the
edge of the boundary layer. Taking a step away from the surface will
essentially result in a minor change in temperature as would moving
axially. From this we conclude that changes in the axial temperature
gradient with respect to x are small compared to changes in the normal
temperature gradient with respect to y. That is

w 2T w 2T
 . (4.17)
wx 2 wy 2
2 2
Thus, axial conduction, w T / wx , can be dropped from the energy
equation to obtain

wT wT w 2T
u v D , (4.18)
wx wy wy 2
where D is thermal diffusivity. This equation is known as the boundary
layer energy equation.
110 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow

(ii) Scale Analysis

Scaling will now be used to examine the order of magnitude of each term
in energy equation (2.19). Again we consider the flow over a slender body
of characteristic length L. The free stream velocity and temperature are Vf
and Tf . The thermal boundary layer thickness is G t . We postulate that
G t is small compared to the characteristic length L, that is

Gt
 1 . (4.19)
L

Assuming that equation (4.19) is valid, we pose two questions:

(1) What terms in energy equation (2.19) can be dropped?
(2) Under what condition is equation (4.19) valid?
To answer these questions we assign scales to the variables in the energy
equation. The scale for x is given by equation (4.7b)

x a L. (4.7b)
Scales for y and 'T are
y a Gt , (4.20)

'T a Ts  Tf . (4.21)

Scales for u and v depend on whether G t is larger or smaller than G . Thus

two cases are identified as illustrated in Fig. 4.4:
 4.2 The Boundary Layer Concept: Simplification of the Governing Equations 111

Case (1): G t ! G . For this case the axial velocity u within the thermal
boundary layer is of the order of the free stream velocity. Thus the scale for
u is
u a Vf . (4.22)

Following the formulation of (4.7d), scaling of the continuity equation

gives
Gt
v a Vf . (4.23)
L

Using (4.7b) and (4.20-4.23), the two convection terms in equation (2.19)
scale as
wT 'T
u a Vf , (a)
wx L
and
wT 'T
v a Vf . (b)
wy L

Thus the two convection terms are of the same order. We now examine the
order of magnitude of the two conduction terms in (2.19). They scale as

w 2T 'T
a 2 , (c)
wx 2 L
and
w 2T 'T
a . (d)
wy 2 G t2

Comparing (c) with (d) and using (4.19), we conclude that

w 2T w 2T
 . (e)
wx 2 wy 2

This is identical to the intuitive result of (4.17). Thus the boundary layer
energy equation simplifies to
112 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow

wT wT w 2T
u v D . (4.18)
wx wy wy 2
To answer the second question we note that each term in (4.18) is equally
important. A balance between convection and conduction gives

wT w 2T
u aD 2 .
wx wy
Scaling each term in the above
'T 'T
Vf aD 2 .
L Gt
Rearranging

Gt D
a .
L Vf L
Using the definition of D , the above gives

Gt k
a .
L U c pVf L

Using the definitions of Prandtl and Reynolds numbers, the above is

rewritten as

Gt 1
a . (4.24)
L PrRe L
Thus
Gt
 1 when PrRe L !! 1 . (4.25)
L

The product of the Prandtl and Reynolds numbers appears in various

convection problems and is called the Peclet number, Pe, defined as

Pe PrRe L . (4.26)
 4.2 The Boundary Layer Concept: Simplification of the Governing Equations 113

As an example, a Peclet number of 100 gives G t / L a 0.1. It should be

noted that the above result applies to the case of G t ! G . It remains to
establish the condition under which G t ! G . Taking the ratio of (4.24) to
(4.14b) gives
Gt 1
a . (4.27)
G Pr
Thus the criterion for G t ! G is

G t ! G when Pr  1 . (4.28)

Case (2): G t  G . Examination of Fig. 4.4 shows that for this case the
axial velocity u within the thermal boundary layer is smaller than the free
stream velocity. Pretending that the velocity profile is linear, similarity of
triangles gives a scale for u as
Gt
u a Vf . (4.29)
G
Following the formulation of (4.7d), scaling of the continuity equation
gives
G t2
v a Vf . (4.30)
LG

Using (4.29) and (4.30) and following the procedure used in Case (1), we
arrive at the conclusion that the two convection terms are of the same order
and that axial conduction is negligible compared to normal conduction.
To answer the second question we again perform a balance between
convection and conduction

wT w 2T
u aD 2 .
wx wy
Using (4.29) for u, scaling each term in the above gives

G t 'T 'T
Vf aD 2 .
G L Gt
Using the definition of D and rearranging
114 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow

G
G t / L 3 a k
.
U c pVf L L

Applying (4.14b) to eliminate G / L in the above, we obtain

Gt 1
a 1/3
. (4.31)
L Pr Re L

Thus the condition for the assumption in (4.19) that G t / L  1 is

Gt
 1 when Pr 1/3 Re L !! 1 . (4.32)
L

We next establish the condition under which G t  G . Taking the ratio of

(4.31) to (4.14b)
Gt 1
a 1/3 . (4.33)
G Pr
Thus the criterion for G t  G is

G t  G when Pr 1/3 !! 1 . (4.34)

4.3 Summary of Boundary Layer Equations for Steady Laminar Flow

In formulating the governing equations for convection heat transfer we

have made several simplifying assumptions in order to limit the
mathematical complexity. These assumptions are: (1) Continuum, (2)
Newtonian fluid, (3) two-dimensional process, (5) negligible changes in
kinetic and potential energy and (4) constant properties. The additional
assumptions leading to boundary layer simplifications are: (6) slender
surface, (7) high Reynolds number (Re > 100), and (8) high Peclet number
(Pe > 100). Finally, we introduce the following additional simplifications:
(9) steady state, (10) laminar flow, (11) no dissipation () = 0), (12) no
gravity, and (13) no energy generation ( q ccc = 0). The governing boundary
layer equations for these conditions are:
Continuity: