FORCED CONVECTION: DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

The problem of convection is to determine the convective heat transfer coefficient, h. If the
value of h is measured for a body of a given shape (for example, a cylinder) in a number of different
fluids, it can be deduced that this coefficient depends on:
The fluid properties: conductivity k, density D, dynamic viscosity : and specific heat cp
The size of the body, as specified by a characteristic length, R. For convection from a cylinder in
cross flow, the characteristic length would be the cylinder diameter, D. For convection from a flat plate,
the obvious choice would be the length of the plate.
The magnitude of the characteristic fluid velocity, U. As illustrated below, for external flows, the
undisturbed freestream velocity is the most appropriate velocity to use. For flow in a pipe or duct, the
mean velocity is the most appropriate.

To summarize,

Thus, there are seven dimensional variables involved in any forced convection problem. However, the
theory of dimensional analysis (Buckingham A Theorem) shows that there are fewer generalized
dimensionless variables required to describe the problem. The number of dimensionless groups
required is equal to number of dimensional variables (seven in the present case) minus the number of
dimensions required in the problem. We have four dimensions in the current problem: mass M, length
L, time t and temperature T. So, three dimensionless groups (i.e., 7-4=3) will be obtained.
The dimensionless groups are formed by taking products of the dimensional quantities; hence,
they are denoted with the symbol A. Consider a problem involving m quantities and n dimensions.
According to the Buckingham A Theorem, these quantities will form m-n independent dimensionless
groups. In the current problem m=7 and n=4. So, we will get three (3) dimensionless groups, A1, A2
, A3. We form these groups by selecting n quantities (that contain all m dimensions collectively) as
repeating variables together with one of the other m-n quantities to form products.

In the current problem, we will select k, :, D and R as repeating quantities. So, the non-repeating
(primary) quantities will be h, U and cp. Now, we form the following products:

The twelve exponents a1, b1, c1, d1, a2, b2, ... d3 are determined from the fact that each product (A1,
A2 , A3 ) is dimensionless.
Table 1: Dimensions of the Variables
Quantity

Units

Dimensions

W/(m2 K)

M/t3T

W/(m K)

ML/t3T

cp

J/(kg K)

L2/t2T

kg/m3

M/L3

kg/(m s)

M/Lt

m/s

L/t

Dimensionless Group A1
Substituting the dimensions into product A1 gives:

Equating the exponents on the left and right sides of the above equation:
For M:
For L:
For t:
For T:

0 = 1 + a1 + b1 + c1
0 = a1 - b1 - 3c1 + d1
0 = -3 - 3a1 - b1
0 = -1 - a1
2

This dimensionless group is called the average Nusselt number:

The Nusselt number can be interpreted as a dimensionless heat transfer rate.

Dimensionless Group A2
Substituting the dimensions into product A2 gives:

Equating the exponents on the left and right sides of the above equation:
For M:
For L:
For t:
For T:

0 = a2 + b2 + c2
0 = 1 + a2 - b2 - 3c2 + d2
0 = -1 - 3a2 - b2
0 = -a2

This dimensionless group is called the Reynolds number:

Dimensionless Group A3
Substituting the dimensions into product A3 gives:

Equating the exponents on the left and right sides of the above equation:
For M:
For L:
For t:
For T:

0 = a3 + b3 + c3
0 = 2 + a3 - b3 - 3c3 + d3
0 = -2 - 3a3 - b3
0 = -1 - a3

This dimensionless group is called the Prandtl number:

Prandtl number is a dimensionless group that accounts for the effect of fluid properties on the
convection heat transfer rate. For gases at atmospheric pressure, Pr.0.7. For engine oil, Pr.1000. For
mercury, Pr.0.02.
Now, the problem of convection can be expressed as:

So, for any forced convection problem: