A Computational Model for Teaching of Free Convection
Abstract
Free convection is a fundamental component of courses in heat transfer, but the transport equations are frequently coupled and cannot be solved analytically. In this article, an algorithm is presented for solving Poulhausen's approximation for free convection near a vertical wall, calculating the Nusselt number, and constructing two-dimensional temperature and vertical velocity distributions. This example can be readily incorporated into the chemical engineering classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, either as a numerical modeling problem or as a tool to help students conceptualize free convection.