Computational analysis of convective heat transfer across a vertical tube

Abstract

This paper deals with the numerical investigation of the convective mode of heat transfer across a vertical tube. Experiments were carried out using air as a fluid in a closed room by achieving a steady-state condition. Implicit scheme of finite difference method was adopted to numerically simulate the free convection phenomenon across vertical tube using LINUX based UBUNTU package. Numerical data were collected in the form of velocity, temperature profiles, boundary layer thickness, Nusselt number (Nu), Rayleigh's number (Ra), and heat transfer coefficient. The results of the Nusselt number showed a good agreement with the previous studies. Results data of heat transfer coefficient indicate that there were some minor heat losses due to radiation of brass tube and curvature of the tube.

Keywords

• natural convection
• vertical tube
• boundary layer
• finite difference method
• heat transfer
• nusselt number
• grashof number