Nusselt number evaluation for combined radiative and convective heat transfer in flow of gaseous products from combustion

Abstract

Combined convection and radiation in simultaneously developing laminar flow and heat transfer is numerically considered with a discrete-direction method. Coupled heat transfer in absorbing emitting but not scattering gases is presented in some cases of practical situations such as combustion of natural gas, propane and heavy fuel. Numerical calculations are performed to evaluate the thermal radiation effects on heat transfer through combustion products flowing inside circular ducts. The radiative properties of the flowing gases are modeled by using the absorption distribution function (ADF) model. The fluid is a mixture of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen. The flow and energy balance equations are solved simultaneously with temperature dependent fluid properties. The bulk mean temperature variations and Nusselt numbers are shown for a uniform inlet temperature. Total, radiative and convective mean Nusselt numbers and their axial evolution for different gas mixtures produced by combustion with oxygen are explored.