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Research Papers: Natural and Mixed Convection

# Laminar Natural Convection From Isothermal Vertical Cylinders: Revisting a Classical Subject

[+] Author and Article Information
Jerod C. Day

Mechanical and Energy Engineering,
University of North Texas,
Denton, TX 76203

Matthew K. Zemler

Mechanical Engineering,
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Matthew J. Traum

Mechanical Engineering,
Milwaukee School of Engineering,
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Sandra K. S. Boetcher

Mechanical Engineering,
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
e-mail: sandra.boetcher@erau.edu

1Corresponding author.

Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Heat Transfer. Manuscript received December 26, 2011; final manuscript received August 13, 2012; published online January 3, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Giulio Lorenzini.

J. Heat Transfer 135(2), 022505 (Jan 03, 2013) (9 pages) Paper No: HT-11-1587; doi: 10.1115/1.4007421 History: Received December 26, 2011; Revised August 13, 2012

## Abstract

Although an extensively studied classical subject, laminar natural convection heat transfer from the vertical surface of a cylinder has generated some recent interest in the literature. In this investigation, numerical experiments are performed to determine average Nusselt numbers for isothermal vertical cylinders ($102, and Pr = 0.7) situated on an adiabatic surface in a quiescent ambient environment. Average Nusselt numbers for various cases will be presented and compared with commonly used correlations. Using Nusselt numbers for isothermal tops to approximate Nusselt numbers for heated tops will also be examined. Furthermore, the limit for which the heat transfer results for a vertical flat plate may be used as an approximation for the heat transfer from a vertical cylinder will be investigated.

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## References

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## Figures

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of the solution domain

Fig. 2

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.1

Fig. 3

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.125

Fig. 4

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.2

Fig. 5

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.5

Fig. 13

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.2

Fig. 14

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.5

Fig. 15

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 1

Fig. 16

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 2

Fig. 17

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 5

Fig. 18

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 8

Fig. 19

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 10

Fig. 6

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 1

Fig. 7

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 2

Fig. 8

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 5

Fig. 9

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 8

Fig. 10

Insulated-top average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 10

Fig. 11

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.1

Fig. 12

Comparison of average Nusselt number versus Rayleigh number for AR = 0.125

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