Boundary Layer Equations

Reference: Incropera & DeWitt, Introduction to Heat Transfer, 2nd ed.

Boundary Layer Approximations

Assumptions: 2-D, incompressible, constant properties, negligible body forces (X=Y=0), no energy generation Order of magnitude analysis: neglect terms which are very small compared to other terms Velocity Boundary Layer Thermal Boundary Layer

u >> v u u v v >> , , y x y x

T T >> x y

Shear Stress Approximations

Normal stress negligible

xx = yy 0
Shear stresses:

xy = yx

u v u = + y x y

Simplified B.L. Equations

Continuity Equation u v + =0 x y X-Momentum Equation
u u u 1 p u +v = + 2 x y x y
2

Y-Momentum Equation
p =0 y

Boundary layer pressure varies only in the x-direction. Pressure inside the boundary layer is equal to the pressure outside the boundary layer.

Simplified Energy Equation

T u T T +v = 2 + u x y c p y y The last term accounts for viscous dissipation and may be ignored in most cases. It must not be ignored for cases such as sonic flow or high-speed oil flow. LHS: deals with advection. 1st Term on RHS: deals with conduction
2 2

Normalized Equations
Allows for application of results from one situation to similar situations Non-dimensionalize using the following parameters: x y x = y = L L u v u = v = V V T Ts p T = p = V 2 T Ts

Normalized Equations
X-Momentum Equation

u p 1 u u u +v = + 2 Re L y x y x

Energy Equation

T 1 T T u +v = 2 Re Pr y x y
2

Prandtl Number
Prandtl Number (Pr=/) is the ratio of the momentum and thermal diffusivities. It compares the diffusion of momentum (related to velocity fluctuations) to the diffusion of energy in the velocity & thermal boundary layers. Boundary Layer Thicknesses: Pr n t Gases: Pr ~1; liquid metals: Pr<<1; oils: Pr >>1

Resulting Simplifications
We can reduce the number of parameters on which u and T are dependent.
* * * * x , y , ReL , dP u = f * dx * * dP* * T = f x , y , ReL , Pr, dx*

The pressure gradient is dependent on geometry.

Nusselt Number
Local Nusselt Number

hL Nu = kf
For a given geometry
Nu = f ( x* , Re L , Pr ) local Nusselt number average Nusselt number

hL Nu = = f ( Re L , Pr ) kf

Importance Nusselt number correlations need to include only these factors

Example Problem
Air with a velocity of 3 m/s is blown over a 3 mm long louvered fin in a heat exchanger. To study the fin, your professor scales the fin up to be 25.5 mm long. What air velocity must she use to keep the same Reynolds number? Will the average Nusselt number over the fin be the same in both cases? If the average Nusselt number in the first case was 35, what was the convection coefficient, h, for both cases? Use properties at an air temperature of 300K.