Analysis of Heat Transfer by Natural Convection Across Vertical Fluid Layers

Abstract

An analysis is presented which predicts the heat transfer across fluid layers bounded laterally by vertical isothermal surface and adiabatic surfaces on the top and bottom. The vertical temperature distribution in the core of the cavity is also predicted. Extensive comparisons of average Nusselt number and temperature distribution are made with experimental data for aspect ratios greater than 5. Good agreement between analysis and experiment is found. The heat-transfer equations for vertical layers are generalized to include layers which are tilted up to 20° from the vertical, making the results useful for the design of solar collectors.