What is the difference between the average Nu and the fully developed

Nu?

If averaging is done at fully developed region, this two value will be same. Otherwise, the average
Nu is greater than local Nu.

The local Nu is used to show the development of heat flow along a wall ( we chose same points
to do the study) ; In the case of average Nu wall is considered as a whole body, and the heat flow
is global.
So we can say that there are some cases where the average Nu equals the local Nu , and others
not.

In developing flow inside pipes the Nu number changes along the axial position. After the flow is
fully developed the Nu number remains constant along the axial position (Nu=4.36 for laminar
flow, constant heat flux at wall, circular pipe). Depending on the tube lenght you are averaging
the Nu can be 4.36 (total tube lenght considered is in fully developed region) or diferent (part of
tube lenght in developing region). If the entrance lenght is short compared to total tube lenght
you can neglect the tube entrance effect and assume Nu=4.36 for all tube (aproximation. Be
carefull).

the Nu is a dimensionless number that shows how much heat transfer from a surface to a moving
fluid. to be able to understand the difference between both, check the difference between
average (which consider the body as whole) and the fully developed flow which differ according
to the case studied internal or external constant surface temperature or constant heat flux. Again
imagine the curve for the convection heat transfer coefficient with distance which start high then
decreases in laminar region jump up in the transition and slow down in turbulent flow. so they are
two different values you may search for a relation but it will be dependent on the case studied.

Nusselt number is a dimensionless parameter indicative of the ratio of heat transfer by

convection to conduction across a fluid layer. It is a coefficient indicating the rate at which a
geometry transfer heat.
Average Nusselt number is the mean of Local Nusselt numbers over the entire heat transfer
surface. Therefore, its value depends on the geometry or surface of heat transfer. The type of the
flow regime or region is not a constraint for the use of average Nusselt number as heat transfer
coefficient. It can be used to estimate the heat transfer at the entrance region as well as in a fully
developed region.

Fully developed Nusselt number is only for the fully developed region. It is an average Nusselt
number estimated when the flow is fully developed. The Nusselt number is a constant throughout
the region, but its value depends on the surface thermal condition