Heat transfer by free convection from an isothermal vertical round plate in unlimited space

A theoretical solution of natural convective heat transfer from isothermal round plates mounted vertically in unlimited space, is presented. With simp lifying assumptions typical for natural heat transfer process, equations fo r the velocity profile in the boundary layer and the average velocity were obtained. Using this velocity, the energy how within the boundary layer was balanced and compared with the energy transferred from the surface of the vertical plate according to the Newton's law. The solution of the resulting differential equation is presented in the form of a correlation between th e dimensionless Nusselt and Rayleigh numbers. The theoretical result is com pared with the correlation of numerical results obtained using FLUENT. Expe rimental measurements of heat transfer from a heated round vertical plate 0 .07 m in diameter were performed in both water and air. The theoretical, nu merical, and experimental results are all in good agreement. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.