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mrblanco
- 5
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The Nusselt number for an entire flat plate in the turbulent region has two different equations: One for Turbulent and one for Combined Laminar and Turbulent. How do I know when to use one or the other?
The Nusselt number is a dimensionless number used to calculate the convective heat transfer coefficient for a flat plate. It is defined as the ratio of convective to conductive heat transfer at a particular point on the surface of the plate.
Laminar flow refers to smooth and orderly flow of a fluid, where the molecules move in a parallel direction. Turbulent flow, on the other hand, is characterized by chaotic and irregular motion of fluid particles, with mixing and eddies present.
The Nusselt number is significantly higher for turbulent flow compared to laminar flow for a flat plate. This is because turbulent flow promotes greater mixing and turbulence, leading to increased convective heat transfer.
In laminar flow, the Nusselt number can be calculated using the equation Nu = 0.664(Re)^0.5(Pr)^0.33. In turbulent flow, the equation is Nu = 0.037(Re)^0.8(Pr)^0.33.
The Nusselt number plays a crucial role in determining the overall heat transfer for a flat plate. A higher Nusselt number indicates a higher convective heat transfer coefficient and therefore, a greater amount of heat transfer from the plate to the surrounding fluid.