Abstract
The effect of Prandtl number of a medium on heat transfer across a horizontal layer was measured. Stainless steel particles of diameters 1.6, 3.2, and 4.8 mm, glass particles of diameters 2.5 and 6.00 mm, and lead particles of diameter 0.95 mm were used with silicon oil, water, and mercury as working fluids. The bed height was varied from 2.5 to 12 cm. Experimental results are presented showing Nusselt number as a function of medium Rayleigh number with the effective Prandtl number, defined as the product of medium Prandtl number and Kozeny–Carmen constant, serving as a parameter. Correlations for Nusselt number are given for effective Prandtl number less than 0.1 and for effective Prandtl number greater than 0.1, which corresponds to an infinite effective Prandtl number. For the steel–water case the wavenumber is shown as a function of medium Rayleigh number.