A convective analytical model in turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate based on the unifying heat flux formula

Abstract

The two-dimensional (2D) convective heat fluxes are formulated for quasi-steady incompressible turbulent thermal boundary layer flow over a flat plate based on the unifying heat-flux formula developed previously. It is indicated that the total turbulent convection heat flux is the combination of three heat transport mechanisms: conduction due to random molecular motion, laminar advection due to time-averaged motion of fluid bulk and turbulent advection due to fluctuations of velocity and temperature. The interdependent relationship between two heat flux components in different directions is obtained for the quasi-steady turbulent boundary layer flow, which is proved to be equivalent to the turbulent differential and integral energy equations with constant physical properties, respectively. The turbulent thermal boundary layer is divided into laminar sublayer and turbulent layer, in which the linear and one-seventh-power temperature (velocity) profiles are adopted, respectively. Considering the different thicknesses of turbulent thermal and velocity boundary layers, the explicit analytical expression of convective turbulent heat transfer coefficient, as well as the simplified analytical expressions of boundary layer thickness ratio, is proposed based on the total turbulent convection heat transfer structure. The suggested analytical turbulent convective heat transfer coefficients (or Stanton numbers) for air and water are validated by comparing with those of previous theories and experimental measurements. Relevant key characteristics and physical insights of the turbulent structure on the flat plates are revealed in virtue of 2D analytical convective heat fluxes proposed.