Experimental Study and Analysis of Turbulent Natural Convection at Isothermal Vertical Plate

Abstract

Turbulent natural convection at isothermal vertical plate is studied experimentally for Prandtl number Pr = 13.5–15. The results of an experimental investigation of time-averaged temperature and velocity fields as well as of shear stress and heat transfer rate in turbulent boundary layer are presented. The thickness of viscous and conduction sublayers is determined. The dependence of these thicknesses on the process parameters for Pr = 13.5–15 is found. The statistical characteristics of the turbulent boundary layer \(\left( {\left( {\overline {{u}'^2} } \right)^{1/2},\left( {\overline {{T}'^2} } \right)^{1/2}} \right)\) are obtained. According to the experimental data, the law of variation of the viscous sublayer thickness is found. The laws of variation of the thickness of dynamic and thermal boundary layers are established. The wall shear stress and the shear stress variation across the boundary layer are determined. It has been found experimentally that the flow in the outer part of the boundary layer has a jet character.