Prepared By: Nurhaslina FKK, Uitm

Prepared by
Nurhaslina
FKK, UITM
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF
CONVECTION
• Convection denotes energy transfer

between a surface and a fluid moving
over the surface.
• Recall Newton’s law of cooling for heat
transfer between a surface of area As and
temperature Ts and a fluid:
q  h(TS  T )
• Generally flow conditions will vary along
the surface, so q” is a local heat flux and
h is a local convection coefficient.
THE VELOCITY BOUNDARY LAYER
• Consider flow of a fluid over a flat plate:
• The flow is characterized by two regions:

– A thin fluid layer (boundary layer) in which
velocity gradients and shear stresses are large.
– Its thickness δ is defined as the value of y for
which u = 0.99 u∞
– An outer region in which velocity gradients and
shear stresses are negligible
From Newtonian fluids:
u
S  
y y 0
and
S
Cf  2
u / 2
where Cf is the local friction coefficient

THE THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYER
• Velocity boundary layer develops when there is fluid
flow over a surface
• Thermal boundary layer develops if the fluid free
stream and surface temperature differ.
• Consider flow of a fluid over an isothermal flat plate:
• The thermal boundary layer is the region of the fluid

in which temperature gradient exist
• Its thickness is defined as the value of y for which the
ratio: TS  T
 0.99
TS  T
• At the plate surface (y=0), there is no fluid
motion
– Conduction heat transfer:
T
qS"  k f
y y 0
- From Newton’s Law (convection):
qs’’ = h (Ts - T∞)
- Combining these equations:
 k f T / y y 0
h
TS  T
LOCAL AND AVERAGE
CONVECTION COEFFICIENTS
• Consider the convective heat transfer as a

fluid passes over a surface of arbitrary shape:
• Newton’s law of cooling states:
where h is the local heat transfer coefficient.

• Flow conditions will vary along the surface, both
q’’ and h also vary along the surface
• The total heat transfer rate is
• where h is the average convection coefficient for

the entire surface
• For the special case of flow over a flat plate, h
varies with the distance x
1 L
h
L 0 
h dx
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
fluid motion is orderly and highly irregular and fluctuates

regular
Flow conditions are typically The critical Reynolds number for flow
characterized by a Reynolds over a flat plate:
number, Re: ρu ∞ x c
Re x ,c = = 5 ×105
ρu ∞ x μ
Re x = ρυD
μ For flow in a pipe: Re D =
μ
Laminar : ReD < 2300
Transition: 2300 < ReD < 4000
Turbulent: ReD > 4000
SUMMARY – BOUNDARY LAYERS
• Velocity Boundary Layer (thickness δ(x))
characterized by the presence of velocity
gradients and shear stresses
– Surface Friction, Cf
• Thermal Boundary Layer (thickness δt(x))

characterized by temperature gradients.
– Convection heat transfer coefficient, h

Problem 6.1
In a flow over a surface, velocity and temperature

profiles are of the forms
u(y) = Ay + By2 – Cy3
T(y) = D + Ey + Fy2 – Gy3
where the coefficients A through G are constants.
Obtain a expressions for the friction coefficient Cf
and the convection coefficient h in terms of u∞ , T∞
and appropriate profile coefficients and fluid
properties.
PROBLEM 6.3
In a particular application involving airflow over a

heated surface, the boundary layer temp.
distribution may be approximated as
T – Ts = 1 – exp ( - Pr u∞y)
T∞ - Ts υ
where y is the distance normal to the surface and
the Prandtl number, Pr = cp μ/k = 0.7 is a
dimensionless fluid property. If T∞ = 400k ,
Ts =300k and u∞ /υ = 5000m-1 , what is the surface
heat flux?
PROBLEM 6.4
For laminar flow over a flat plate, the local heat

transfer coefficient hx is known to vary as x-1/2 ,
where x is the distance from the leading edge
(x=0) of the plate. What is the ratio of the average
coefficient between the leading edge and some
location x on the plate to the local coefficient at x?
PROBLEM 6.8
Air at free stream temperature of T∞ = 20°c is in

parallel flow over a flat plate of length L = 5m and
temp. Ts = 90°c . However, obstacles placed in the
flow intensity mixing with increasing distance x
from the leading edge and the spatial variation of
temp. measured in the boundary layer is correlated
by an expression of the form T(°c) = 20 + 70 exp (-
600xy) , where x and y are in meters. Determine
and plot the manner in which the local convection
coefficient, h varies with x. Evaluate the average
convection coefficient h for the plate.

Prepared By: Nurhaslina FKK, Uitm

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• Convection denotes energy transfer

• The flow is characterized by two regions:

where Cf is the local friction coefficient

• The thermal boundary layer is the region of the fluid

- From Newton’s Law (convection):

qs’’ = h (Ts - T∞)

- Combining these equations:

• Consider the convective heat transfer as a

• Newton’s law of cooling states:

where h is the local heat transfer coefficient.

• where h is the average convection coefficient for

fluid motion is orderly and highly irregular and fluctuates

• Thermal Boundary Layer (thickness δt(x))

– Convection heat transfer coefficient, h

In a flow over a surface, velocity and temperature

In a particular application involving airflow over a

For laminar flow over a flat plate, the local heat

Air at free stream temperature of T∞ = 20°c is in

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