Question

Assuming the transition to turbulence for flow over a flat plate happens at a Reynolds number of 5x105, determine the following for air at 300 K and engine oil at 380 K. Assume the free stream velocity is 3 m/s. a. The distance from the leading edge at which the transition will occur b. Expressions for the momentum and thermal boundary layer thicknesses as a function of x for a laminar boundary layer c. Which fluid has the higher heat transfer

Answer 1

Given:

Assuming the transition to turbulence for flow over a flat plate happens at a Reynolds number of 5x105, determine the following for air at 300 K and engine oil at 380 K. Assume the free stream velocity is 3 m/s.

To Find:

a. The distance from the leading edge at which the transition will occur.

b. Expressions for the momentum and thermal boundary layer thicknesses as a function of x for a laminar boundary layer

c. Which fluid has a higher heat transfer

Calculation:

The transition from the lamina to turbulent begins when the critical Reynolds

number reaches $5\times 10^5$

$(a). \;\text{Rex}_{cr}=5 \times 10^5\\\\\frac{\rho\;vx}{\mu}=5 \times 10^5\\\text{density of of air at}\;300K=1.16 \frac{kg}{m\cdot s}\\\text{viscosity of of air at}\;300K=1.846 \times 10^{-5} \frac{kg}{m\cdot s} \\v=3m/s\\\Rightarrow x=\frac{5\times 10^5 \times 1.846 \times 10^{-5} }{1.16 \times 3} =2.652 \;m \;\text{for air}\\(\text{similarly for engine oil at 380 K for given}\; \rho \;\text{and} \;\mu)$

$(b).\; \text{For the lamina boundary layer momentum boundary layer thickness is given by}:\\\frac{\delta}{x} =\frac{5}{\sqrt{R_e}}\;\;\;\;\quad\text{for}\; R_e$$(c). \frac{\delta}{\delta_t}={P_r}^{\frac{r}{3}}\\\text{For air} \;P_r \;\text{equivalent 1 hence both momentum and heat dissipate with the same rate for oil}\; \\P_r >>1 \text{heat diffuse very slowly}\\\text{So heat transfer rate will be high for air.}\\\text{Convective heat transfer coefficient will be high for engine oil.}$