Heat Transfer Calculators | Forced convection

Convection Film Coefficients Calculators

Convection Film Coefficient of a Flat Wall

The intensity of heat transfer depends on the flow dynamic type, which determines the structure of the boundary layer at the heat exchange surface, which in turn depends on the flow rate. An increase in the flow rate results in a reduction of the boundary layer, increase in turbulence and the intensity of heat transfer.

Heat transfer also depends on the characteristics of the heat-transfer medium. High thermal conductivity reduces the thermal resistance of the boundary layer and increases the heat transfer.

A reduction of the fluid viscosity reduces the boundary layer, which also has a beneficial effect on heat transfer between the surface and the heat-transfer agent flow.

A reduction of the boundary layer also occurs in case of an increase in the kinematic viscosity or the density of the fluid, which also increases the heat transfer.

Also, the intensity of heat transfer depends on the specific heat of the fluid. With an increase in specific heat, heat transfer also increases, as a liquid with a higher heat absorptive capacity is capable of transferring greater amount of heat.

Additional factors influencing the heat transfer are the shape of the heat transfer surface, chemical reactions, and phase transitions in the heat-transfer medium.

The heat transfer coefficient of a flat surface is calculated using the similarity equation:

Nul = 0.66×Rel0.5×Pr0.33 - at laminar flow;

Nul = 0.037×Rel0.8×Pr0.43 - at turbulent flow;

Rel - Reynolds number, Pr - Prandtl number.

In this calculation, the process of heat transfer from a flat surface of length L is considered. The surface is in contact with a fluid flow with dynamic viscosity μ, density ρ, thermal conductivity λ and specific heat Cp. The flow runs in the direction of dimension L with an average velocity W.

As a result of calculations, the convective film coefficient α of flat surface is determined. In addition, similarity criteria for a given design case are determined, including Reynolds number Re, Prandtl number Pr, Peclet number Pe and Nusselt number Nu.

Convection Film Coefficient of the Flat Wall
calculation of Convection Film Coefficient of the Flat Wall

INITIAL DATA

L - Surface size at flow direction;

w - Flow rate;

μ - Fluid dynamic viscosity;

ρ - Fluid density;

λ - Thermal conductivity coefficient of a fluid;

Cp - Specific heat of a fluid.

RESULTS DATA

α - Convection film coefficient of the flat surface.

Re - Reynolds number.

Pr - Prandtl number.

Pe - Peclet number.

Nu - Nusselt number.

Surface size (L)

Flow rate (w)

Dynamic viscosity (μ)

Density (ρ)

Thermal conductivity (λ)

Specific heat (Сp)

Film coefficient (α)

Reynolds number (Re)

Prandtl number (Pr)

Peclet number (Pe)

Nusselt number (Nu)

BASIC FORMULAS

Reynolds number:

Re = ρ*w*L / μ;

Peclet number:

Pe = Сp*ρ*w*L / λ;

Prandtl number:

Pr = Pe / Re;

Nusselt number:

Nu = 0.66*Re0.5*Pr0.33 - at laminar flow;
Nu = 0.037*Re0.8*Pr0.43 - at turbulent flow;

Convection film coefficient:

α = Nu*λ / L.

INITIAL DATA

L - Surface size at flow direction;

w - Flow rate;

μ - Dynamic viscosity of fluid;

ρ - Fluid density;

λ - Thermal conductivity coefficient of a fluid;

Cp - Specific heat of a fluid.

RESULTS DATA

α - Convection film coefficient of the flat surface.

Re - Reynolds number.

Pr - Prandtl number.

Pe - Peclet number.

Nu - Nusselt number.

FLUID PROPERTIES

Fluid properties at 20ºC (68 ºF)

Fluid

Density

Kg/m³

(lb/ft³)

Dynamic viscosity

Pa*s

(lb*s/ft²)

Volumetric

expansion

1/ºC

(1/ºF)

Thermal

conductivity

W/m*ºC

(W/in*ºF)

Specific heat

J/kg*ºC

(J/lb*ºF)

Water

998

(62.3)

0.001

(0.0000209)

0.00021

(0.00016)

0.599

(0.084)

4182

(1053)

Air

1.205

(0.075)

0.000018

(0.000000377)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0259

(0.00036)

1005

(253)

Water vapor

0.01

(0.00063)

0.0000096

(0.0000002)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0178

(0.00025)

1859

(468)

Engine Oil SAE

15W-40

879

(54.9)

0.287

(0.006)

0.00655

(0.0036)

0.134

(0.00190)

2039

(513)

Fluid properties at 40ºC (104 ºF)

Fluid

Density

Kg/m³

(lb/ft³)

Dynamic viscosity

Pa*s

(lb*s/ft²)

Volumetric

expansion

1/ºC

(1/ºF)

Thermal

conductivity

W/m*ºC

(W/in*ºF)

Specific heat

J/kg*ºC

(J/lb*ºF)

Water

992

(62)

0.00065

(0.0000135)

0.00021

(0.00016)

0.635

(0.0090)

4170

(1050)

Air

1.128

(0.07)

0.000019

(0.000000397)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0276

(0.00039)

1005

(253)

Water vapor

0.05

(0.0031)

0.0000104

(0.000000217)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0195

(0.000275)

1860

(468)

Engine Oil SAE

15W-40

866

(54.1)

0.091

(0.0019)

0.00655

(0.0036)

0.131

(0.00184)

2106

(530)

Fluid properties at 60ºC (140 ºF)

Fluid

Density

Kg/m³

(lb/ft³)

Dynamic viscosity

Pa*s

(lb*s/ft²)

Volumetric

expansion

1/ºC

(1/ºF)

Thermal

conductivity

W/m*ºC

(W/in*ºF)

Specific heat

J/kg*ºC

(J/lb*ºF)

Water

963

(60.2)

0.00046

(0.0000096)

0.00021

(0.00016)

0.659

(0.0093)

4184

(1054)

Air

1.060

(0.066)

0.000020

(0.00000042)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0290

(0.00041)

1005

(253)

Water vapor

0.14

(0.0088)

0.0000112

(0.00000023)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0212

(0.00029)

1870

(471)

Engine Oil SAE

15W-40

853

(53.3)

0.038

(0.00079)

0.00655

(0.0036)

0.129

(0.00180)

2165

(545)

Fluid properties at 80ºC (176 ºF)

Fluid

Density

Kg/m³

(lb/ft³)

Dynamic viscosity

Pa*s

(lb*s/ft²)

Volumetric

expansion

1/ºC

(1/ºF)

Thermal

conductivity

W/m*ºC

(W/in*ºF)

Specific heat

J/kg*ºC

(J/lb*ºF)

Water

972

(60.7)

0.00035

(0.0000073)

0.00021

(0.00016)

0.675

(0.0095)

4196

(1057)

Air

1.00

(0.063)

0.000021

(0.00000044)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0305

(0.00043)

1009

(254)

Water vapor

0.29

(0.018)

0.0000119

(0.00000025)

0.00365

(0.00202)

0.0229

(0.00032)

1880

(474)

Engine Oil SAE

15W-40

841

(52.6)

0.019

(0.00039)

0.00655

(0.0036)

0.127

(0.00178)

2227

(561)

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