Natural convection heat transfer below a heated downward-facing disk in air

摘要

A numerical analysis and experimental study of natural convective heat transfer below a downward facing heated horizontal disk in air has been carried out. A mathematical model including the coupled heat transfer and flow equations is presented. Both of variable and constant gas properties with Boussinesq assumption cases are considered. Numerical calculations of flow and thermal fields are presented. A comparison with experimental measurement of temperature using shearing interferometry (shearography) shows excellent agreement. The experimental measurements were performed in air using a vertical disk of diameter D = 30 mm. Nusselt number data and correlations are provided for laminar air flows.