PROBLEM 9.

8
KNOWN: Laminar free convection on a vertical plate. FIND: Exact values of C from the similarity solution for Pr = 0.01, 1, 10 and 100. ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Constant properties. (2) Steady state conditions. (3) Parameter n = . ANALYSIS: The similarity solution for the average Nusselt number is

4 Gr Nu L = L 3 4

1/ 4

0.75Pr1/ 2 1/ 2 0.609 + 1.221Pr + 1.238Pr

1/ 4

(1)

while the correlation for the average Nusselt number is expressed as

n Nu L = CRa L = C ( GrL Pr ) = C ( GrL Pr ) n

1/ 4

(2)

Equating the preceding two expressions yields 41 C= 3 4

1/ 4

0.75Pr1/ 4 1/ 2 0.609 + 1.221Pr + 1.238Pr

1/ 4

(3)

Values of C may be determined by substituting Pr = 0.01, 1, 10 and 100 into Equation 3.

Pr 0.01 1 10 100

C 0.241 0.534 0.621 0.654

COMMENTS: (1) The correlation should not be used for liquid metals (i.e. low Pr fluids). (2) The average value of C for Pr = 1, 10 and 100 is 0.60 0.59. Use of the correlation for Pr 0.7 results in an error of approximately 10% as compared to the similarity solution. (3) There are few if any fluids characterized by Pr 0.1. Hence, this range of the Prandtl numbers is not included in the comparison, and is omitted from Figure 9.4.