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§ wT wT · § w 2T w 2T ·
U c 5 ¨¨ u v ¸ k¨ ¸. (2.19)
© wx wy ¸¹ ¨© wx 2 wy 2 ¸¹
w 2T w 2T
. (4.17)
wx 2 wy 2
2 2
Thus, axial conduction, w T / wx , can be dropped from the energy
equation to obtain
wT wT w 2T
u v D , (4.18)
wx wy wy 2
where D is thermal diffusivity. This equation is known as the boundary
layer energy equation.
110 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow
Gt
1 . (4.19)
L
x a L. (4.7b)
Scales for y and 'T are
y a Gt , (4.20)
'T a Ts Tf . (4.21)
Case (1): G t ! G . For this case the axial velocity u within the thermal
boundary layer is of the order of the free stream velocity. Thus the scale for
u is
u a Vf . (4.22)
Using (4.7b) and (4.20-4.23), the two convection terms in equation (2.19)
scale as
wT 'T
u a Vf , (a)
wx L
and
wT 'T
v a Vf . (b)
wy L
Thus the two convection terms are of the same order. We now examine the
order of magnitude of the two conduction terms in (2.19). They scale as
w 2T 'T
a 2 , (c)
wx 2 L
and
w 2T 'T
a . (d)
wy 2 G t2
w 2T w 2T
. (e)
wx 2 wy 2
This is identical to the intuitive result of (4.17). Thus the boundary layer
energy equation simplifies to
112 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow
wT wT w 2T
u v D . (4.18)
wx wy wy 2
To answer the second question we note that each term in (4.18) is equally
important. A balance between convection and conduction gives
wT w 2T
u aD 2 .
wx wy
Scaling each term in the above
'T 'T
Vf aD 2 .
L Gt
Rearranging
Gt D
a .
L Vf L
Using the definition of D , the above gives
Gt k
a .
L U c pVf L
Gt 1
a . (4.24)
L PrRe L
Thus
Gt
1 when PrRe L !! 1 . (4.25)
L
Pe PrRe L . (4.26)
4.2 The Boundary Layer Concept: Simplification of the Governing Equations 113
G t ! G when Pr 1 . (4.28)
Case (2): G t G . Examination of Fig. 4.4 shows that for this case the
axial velocity u within the thermal boundary layer is smaller than the free
stream velocity. Pretending that the velocity profile is linear, similarity of
triangles gives a scale for u as
Gt
u a Vf . (4.29)
G
Following the formulation of (4.7d), scaling of the continuity equation
gives
G t2
v a Vf . (4.30)
LG
Using (4.29) and (4.30) and following the procedure used in Case (1), we
arrive at the conclusion that the two convection terms are of the same order
and that axial conduction is negligible compared to normal conduction.
To answer the second question we again perform a balance between
convection and conduction
wT w 2T
u aD 2 .
wx wy
Using (4.29) for u, scaling each term in the above gives
G t 'T 'T
Vf aD 2 .
G L Gt
Using the definition of D and rearranging
114 4 Boundary Layer Flow: Application to External Flow
G
G t / L 3 a k
.
U c pVf L L
Gt 1
a 1/3
. (4.31)
L Pr Re L
Gt
1 when Pr 1/3 Re L !! 1 . (4.32)
L