Laminar heat transfer in the entrance region of ducts

Abstract

A finite difference technique is used for the evaluation of the rate of heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of ducts with axial conduction. The velocity profile is fully developed and flow in a tube and between parallel plates is studied. Local and average Nusselt numbers and mixing temperatures are presented as a function of the Peclet number. A criterion is also established which proves useful for predicting the conditions under which axial conduction may be ignored.