HEAT TRANSFER BY LAMINAR FREE CONVECTION IN ENCLOSED PLANE GAS LAYERS

Abstract

A numerical method based on the use of orthogonal polynomials is given for the solution of two simultaneous partial differential equations which govern the heat transfer by laminar free convection in enclosed horizontal, oblique, and vertical gas layers. The heat transfer through the enclosed gas layer depends only on the Rayleigh number A = g(T₁-T₀)d³/(T₀kv), the Prandtl number σ = v/k, the aspect ratio of the rectangular cell α = l/d, the angle of inclination ø of the hot and cold walls to the vertical, and finally the temperature distribution in the remaining two walls or border strips.