Heat Transfer - Viscosity questions

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the analysis of heat transfer and viscosity in fluid dynamics, specifically regarding Example 7.1 from a textbook. Key points include the determination of the film temperature at 437K for calculating fluid properties, the clarification that kinematic viscosity is expressed in units of 10^-6 m²/s, and the understanding that the Reynolds number of ~9000 indicates a laminar flow over a flat plate, contrary to the typical turbulent threshold of 2000. The relationship between kinematic viscosity and pressure is also emphasized, noting that for ideal gases, kinematic viscosity is inversely proportional to pressure.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of kinematic viscosity and its units (10^-6 m²/s).
  • Familiarity with Reynolds number and its significance in fluid dynamics.
  • Knowledge of film temperature and its role in heat transfer calculations.
  • Basic principles of fluid mechanics and heat transfer.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of film temperature in heat transfer applications.
  • Explore the relationship between viscosity and pressure in gases.
  • Learn about the critical Reynolds number for flow over flat plates.
  • Study the principles of laminar and turbulent flow transitions in fluid dynamics.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in mechanical engineering, particularly those specializing in fluid dynamics and heat transfer analysis, will benefit from this discussion.

weeman203
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


I do not need to solve this problem, see below.
EXAMPLE 7.1
Air at a pressure of 6kN/m2 and a temperature of 300C flows with a velocity of 10m/s over a flat plate 0.5m long. Estimate the cooling rate per unit width of the plate needed to maintain it at a surface temperature of 27C.

Homework Equations


Kinematic viscosity

The Attempt at a Solution


My question is about the very first/second step, I have attached pictures showing the example problem and the table A4 from the back of the book.
1. How did they decide on the temperature 437K to use in the table.
2. And why is the viscosity 10^-6? Not 10^6?
3. I see that the description mentions something about the inverse viscosity, can anyone elaborate a little about that?
4.Last question is on the 3rd image it shows the Reynolds number is ~9000, isn't that a turbulent flow, but they say its laminar? According to wikipedia laminar flow is less than 2000 correct?

Thanks for any help, I just want to understand the concepts going on. No need to solve the problem.
 

Attachments

  • 1.JPG
    1.JPG
    7.9 KB · Views: 1,366
  • 2.JPG
    2.JPG
    21.3 KB · Views: 1,885
  • 3.JPG
    3.JPG
    14.5 KB · Views: 1,530
  • 4.JPG
    4.JPG
    21.4 KB · Views: 2,409
Physics news on Phys.org
weeman203 said:

Homework Statement


I do not need to solve this problem, see below.
EXAMPLE 7.1
Air at a pressure of 6kN/m2 and a temperature of 300C flows with a velocity of 10m/s over a flat plate 0.5m long. Estimate the cooling rate per unit width of the plate needed to maintain it at a surface temperature of 27C.

Homework Equations


Kinematic viscosity

The Attempt at a Solution


My question is about the very first/second step, I have attached pictures showing the example problem and the table A4 from the back of the book.
1. How did they decide on the temperature 437K to use in the table.
I have no idea. Maybe they meant 200 C in the problem statement insteady of 200 C, in which case the temperature would be 473K.
2. And why is the viscosity 10^-6? Not 10^6?
Look at the heading at the top of the column. It says ##10^6\nu##. That means that each of the numbers in the table has been obtained by multiplying the actual ##\nu## value by ##10^6##
3. I see that the description mentions something about the inverse viscosity, can anyone elaborate a little about that?
It says that the kinematic viscosity of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure. Do you know what this means mathematically? What pressure do the values in the table apply to?
4.Last question is on the 3rd image it shows the Reynolds number is ~9000, isn't that a turbulent flow, but they say its laminar? According to wikipedia laminar flow is less than 2000 correct?

The laminar-turbulent transition depends on the specific geometry. The value of 2000 corresponds to flow in a tube. The critical Re for flow over a flat plate is much larger. Why don't you research it an get back with us?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: weeman203
Thanks for the help!

Chestermiller said:
It says that the kinematic viscosity of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure. Do you know what this means mathematically? What pressure do the values in the table apply to?

Well viscosity increases with an increase in pressure. Based on the equation for kinematic viscosity, kviscosity=viscosity/density, if viscosity and pressure are both increasing, shouldn't the kinematic viscosity be increasing as well?


Chestermiller said:
The laminar-turbulent transition depends on the specific geometry. The value of 2000 corresponds to flow in a tube. The critical Re for flow over a flat plate is much larger. Why don't you research it an get back with us?

OK got it, pretty simple. Re for turbulent flow over a flat plate is 10^8.
 
weeman203 said:
Thanks for the help!

Well viscosity increases with an increase in pressure. Based on the equation for kinematic viscosity, kviscosity=viscosity/density, if viscosity and pressure are both increasing, shouldn't the kinematic viscosity be increasing as well?
For an ideal gas (and for real gases at low pressures), viscosity is independent of pressure (see Transport Phenomena, Bird, Stewart, and Lightfoot, Chapter 1) and density is proportional to pressure. So kinematic viscosity is inversely proportional to pressure.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: weeman203
1. How did they decide on the temperature 437K to use in the table.
In analyzing the convection heat transfer over a plate you should have the "reference temperature" to look up, or calculate, the fluid properties such as viscosity, density, and also the thermal conductivity. Here they choose the "film temperature" to be the reference, and the film temperature is defined as the arithmetic mean of fluid temperature (573K) and the contact surface temperature (isotherm at 300K).
(573K + 300K) / 2 should yield 436.5K ~ 437K just to ignore the decimal digit.
 
The properties need to be evaluated at an average film temperature to approximate the heat transfer coefficient. They based their calculation on the arithmetic average film temperature. It's a judgment call.
 

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
4K
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
13
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K