Chapter 9

Natural Convection

Forced convection--with external forcing condition

Natural (or free) convection--driven by buoyancy force, which
is induced by body force with the presence of density gradient
9.1 Physical Considerations

9.2 The Governing Equations

x-mom. eq.:

2
u
u

u
1
u +v
=
g+ 2
x
y
x
y

(9.1)

With p / y = 0 from the y-mom. eq., the x-pressure gradient in the

b.l. must equal to that in the quiescent region outside the b.l.,
p
i.e.,
= g
(9.2)
x
So,
u
u g
2u
u
+v
= ( ) + 2
(9.3)
x
y
y
Introducing the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient


1
1

=
T p
T T

1 p = 1)
=
(Note: For ideal gases, = 1
T p RT 2 T

u
u
2u
u
+v
= g (T T ) +
x
y
y2

(9.4)
(9.9)
(9.5)

The set of governing equations for laminar free

convection associated with a vertical heated plate are:
continuity eq.: u v
+
=0
(9.6)
x y
x-mom. eq.: u u
2u
u

energy eq.:

+v

= g (T T ) +

T
T
2T
u
+v
= 2
x
y
y

y2

(9.7)

(9.8)

Note the dissipation is neglected in (9.8) and Eqs. (9.6)(9.8) are strongly coupled and must be solved
simultaneously.

9.3 Similarity Considerations

Defining x* x and y* y , L is the characteristic length

L
L
u* u and v* v , u0 is an arbitrary reference velocity
u0
u0
T*

T T
T s T

1 u0=[g(Ts-T)L]1/2

Eqs. (9.7) and (9.8) reduce to

u*
u * g (Ts T ) L * 1 2u *
u*
+ v*
=
T +
2
ReL y *2
u0
x*
y*
T *
T *
1 2T *
u*
+ v*
=
x*
y * ReL Pr y *2
2

u
*

u
*

u*
*
1
(9.10) u *
+ v*
=T +
(GrL )1/2 y *2
x*
y*
where
g (Ts T ) L3
GrL
2

(9.10)
(9.11)
(9.10a)
(9.12)

GrL plays the same role in free convection that ReL plays in forced
convection.

If there is a non-zero free stream velocity, u, we may use u0= u.

Then g (T T ) L g (T T ) L3 u L 2 Gr
s

L
s

=
=

2
2
u2
ReL

u*
u * GrL * 1 2u *
Eq. 9.10 becomes u *
+ v*
= 2T +
ReL y *2
x*
y * ReL

(9.10b)

Generally,
(GrL / ReL2 ) 1

both free & forced convection to be considered

NuL = f ( ReL , GrL , Pr )

(GrL / ReL2 ) << 1 forced convection

NuL = f ( ReL ,Pr )
(GrL / ReL2 ) >> 1 free convection

NuL = f (GrL , Pr )

Alternative derivation of Gr under purely natural convection

Eqs. (9.10) can be also written as
u*
u * g (Ts T ) L * 2u *
u*
+ v*
=
T +
2
u0 L y *2
u0
x*
y*
If u0 is set to make u0L/1, or u0=/L

u*
u * g(Ts T )L3 * 2u *
u *
+ v*
=
T +
2
x*
y*

y *2
T *
T * 1 2T *
u*
+ v*
=
x*
y * Pr y *2
where GrL

g (Ts T ) L3

(9.10)

(9.11)

(9.12)

9.4 Laminar Free Convection on a Vertical Surface

Introducing the similarity parameter
Grx 1/ 4
and ( x, y ) f ( ) 4

4


Eqs. (9.6 to 9.8) can be reduced to
1/ 4

y Grx

x 4

f' ' ' +3 ff " 2( f ' ) 2 + T * = 0

T *" + 3 Pr f T *n = 0

(9.17)
(9.18)

The numerical results are shown in Fig. 9.4.

1/ 4
1/ 4
*
Gr
Gr

Nu x = hx = x dT
= x g ( Pr )
k
4 d = 0 4
where g(Pr) is determined numerically determined as (9.20).
1/ 4
And
Grx
hL
4
=
Nu L =
g ( Pr )

3 4
k

(9.19)

(9.21)

9.5 The Effects of Turbulence

For vertical plates the transition occurs at

Rax ,c = Grx ,c Pr =

g (Ts T ) x 3

109

(9.23)
EX 9.1

9.6 Empirical Correlations: External Free Convection Flows

Generally,

Nu L = h L = CRa nL , n=1/4 for laminar, n=1/3 for turbulent flow

k
Table 9.2 (p. 583) summarizes the empirical correlations for different
immersed geometries.
EX 9.2

F Kreith & MS Bohn,

Principles of Heat
Transfer, 2001

Some other flow

conditions in 9.6

Flow Pattern

9.7 Natural Heat Transfer Between Parallel Plates

Vertical Parallel Plates:

C1
C2
Nu S =
+

2
RaS S / L
( RaS S / L)
where RaS g (Ts T ) S 3 /

1/ 2

(9.45)

(or qs=c)

Cengel, Heat Transfer

Reference: A. Bar-Cohen and W.M.

Rohsenow, Thermally optimum spacing of
vertical, natural convection cooled, parallel
plates, ASME J. Heat Transfer, 106 (1984)
116-123.

Eq. (9.45) is suitable for different thermal conditions of

the plates, isothermal or isoflux plates, symmetric or
with one plate adiabatic. The different values of C1 and
C2 for each condition are given in Table 9.3.

Eq. (9.45) is commonly used for vertical plate heat sinks,

although this can be inaccurate for short fins (H/S<5) due to
additional boundary layers near the base plate corners.
For inclined parallel plates, for 0 45 and within the isolate
plate limit, RaS(S/L)>200,

Nu S = 0.645( RaS S / L)1/ 4

(9.47)

Cengel, Heat Transfer