Experimental study of combined free and forced laminar convection in an asymmetrically heated two-dimensional aiding flow

Abstract

An experimental study of mixed convection in an asymmetrically heated two-dimensional flow of water has been made. Experiments in fully developed turbulent flow (Re maximum=9000) were made initially to establish the satisfactory operation of the equipment. In the mixed convection laminar flow tests to determine local Nusselt numbers, the Reynolds number range was from about 100 to 1000 with the Rayleigh number based on heat flux varying from about 10 to 300. The data, which are presented graphically, have been compared with the results of the theoretical analyses of other workers. The effect of buoyancy in the immediate entry of the flow [(x/de)/Re Pr <.05] was found to be negligible, but at greater distances there were significant increases in the heat transfer coefficient with the larger values of Rayleigh number.