Chapter 6 Fundamentals of Convective Heat Transfer

Chapter 6 introduces the fundamentals of convection, where heat transfer occurs due to fluid motion across a surface. It begins with boundary layers, distinguishing the velocity boundary layer where fluid speed increases from zero to free stream, and the thermal boundary layer where temperature adjusts from the surface value to that of the surrounding fluid. Local and average convection coefficients are defined to quantify surface heat transfer, followed by the use of the Reynolds number to classify flow as laminar, transitional, or turbulent. The energy equation for two dimensional incompressible flow is presented, linking velocity and temperature gradients. Key nondimensional groups such as Nusselt, Reynolds, and Prandtl numbers are derived and used to compare thermal, momentum, and viscous effects. The chapter includes empirical correlations for flat plate convection, most notably the laminar flow Nusselt number correlation. Reynolds analogy connects heat transfer with skin friction for similar flow behavior. A math review summarizes techniques like dimensional analysis, similarity transformation, and integral methods. The problem solving strategy involves identifying flow type, calculating nondimensional numbers, selecting correlations, and computing heat transfer coefficients and flux. The chapter ends with a concise cheat sheet for quick reference.