PROBLEM 9.

111
KNOWN: Vertical array of circuit boards 0.15m high with maximum allowable uniform surface
temperature for prescribed ambient air temperature.
FIND: Allowable electrical power dissipation per board, q′ [ W / m ] , for these cooling arrangements:
(a) Free convection only, (b) Air flow downward at 0.6 m/s, (c) Air flow upward at 0.3 m/s, and (d)
Air flow upward or downward at 5 m/s.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Uniform surface temperature, (2) Board horizontal spacing sufficient that
boundary layers don’t interfere, (3) Ambient air behaves as quiescent medium, (4) Perfect gas
behavior.
-6 2
PROPERTIES: Table A-4, Air (Tf = (Ts + T∞)/2 ≈ 315K, 1 atm): ν = 17.40 × 10 m /s, k = 0.0274
-6 2
W/m⋅K, α = 24.7 × 10 m /s, Pr = 0.705, β = 1/Tf.
ANALYSIS: (a) For free convection only, the allowable electrical power dissipation rate is
q′ = h L ( 2L )( Ts − T∞ ) (1)
where h L is estimated using the appropriate correlation for free convection from a vertical plate. Find
the Rayleigh number,
g β ΔT L3 9.8m / s (1/ 315K )( 60 − 25 ) K ( 0.150m )
2 3
Ra L = = = 8.551×106. (2)
να −6 2
17.4 ×10 m / s × 24.7 ×10 m / s− 6 2

Since Ra L < 109 , the flow is laminar. With Eq. 9.27 find
⎛ ⎡8.551 × 106 ⎤ ⎞
1/ 4
⎜ 0.670
⎣ ⎦ ⎟⎠
0.670 Ra1/ 4
= 0.68 + ⎝
hL L
Nu L = = 0.68 + = 28.47 (3)
k 4/9 4/9
⎡1 + ( 0.492 / Pr )9 /16 ⎤ ⎡1 + ( 0.492 / 0.705 )9 /16 ⎤
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ ⎥⎦
h L = ( 0.0274 W / m ⋅ K / 0.150m ) × 28.47 = 5.20 W / m 2 ⋅ K.
Hence, the allowable electrical power dissipation rate is,
( )( )
q′ = 5.20 W / m 2 ⋅ K 2 × 0.150m 60 − 25 °C = 54.6 W / m. <
(b) With downward velocity V = 0.6 m/s, the possibility of mixed forced-free convection must be
considered. With ReL = VL/ν, find

( GrL / ReL2 ) = ⎛⎜⎝ RaPrL / Re2L ⎞⎟⎠ (4)

( GrL / Re2L ) = (8.551×106 / 0.705) / ( 0.6 m / s × 0.150m /17.40 ×10−6 m2 / s) = 0.453.

Continued …
 PROBLEM 9.111 (Cont.)

( )
Since GrL / Re 2L ~ 1, flow is mixed and the average heat transfer coefficient may be found from a
correlating equation of the form
n
Nu = Nu nF ± Nu nN (5)
where n = 3 for the vertical plate geometry and the minus sign is appropriate since the natural
convection (N) flow opposes the forced convection (F) flow. For the forced convection flow, ReL =
5172 and the flow is laminar; using Eq. 7.30,
Nu F = 0.664 Re1/ ( ) ( )
2 1/ 3 = 0.664 5172 1/ 2 0.705 1/ 3 = 42.50.
L Pr (6)
Using Nu N = 28.47 from Eq. (3), Eq. (5) now becomes
3
⎛ hL ⎞
⎟ = ( 42.50 ) − ( 28.47 )
3 3 3
Nu = ⎜ Nu = 37.72
⎝ k ⎠
⎛ 0.0274 W / m ⋅ K ⎞ 2
h =⎜ ⎟ × 37.72 = 6.89 W / m ⋅ K.
⎝ 0.150m ⎠
Substituting for h into the rate equation, Eq. (1), the allowable power dissipation with a downward
velocity of 0.6 m/s is
( )( )
q′ = 6.89 W / m 2 ⋅ K 2 × 0.150m 60 − 25 °C = 72.3 W / m. <
(c) With an upward velocity V = 0.3 m/s, the positive sign of Eq. (5) applies since the N-flow is
assisting the F-flow. For forced convection, find

(
ReL = VL /ν = 0.3m / s × 0.150m / 17.40 ×10−6 m 2 / s = 2586. )
The flow is again laminar, hence Eq. (6) is appropriate.
Nu F = 0.664 ( 2586 ) ( 0.705)
1/ 2 1/ 3
= 30.05.
From Eq. (5), with the positive sign, and Nu N from Eq. (4),

Nu = ( 30.05 ) + ( 28.47 )
3 3 3
or Nu = 36.88 and h = 6.74 W / m 2 ⋅ K.
From Eq. (1), the allowable power dissipation with an upward velocity of 0.3 m/s is
( )(
q′ = 6.74 W / m 2 ⋅ K 2 × 0.150m 60 − 25 °C = 70.7 W / m.) <
(d) With a forced convection velocity V = 5 m/s, very likely forced convection will dominate. Check
( )
by evaluating whether GrL / Re 2L << 1 where ReL = VL/ν = 5 m/s × 0.150m/(17.40 × 10 m /s) =
-6 2

43,103. Hence,

( GrL / Re2L ) = ⎛⎜⎝ RaPrL / Re2L ⎞⎟⎠ = (8.551×106 / 0.705) / 43,1032 = 0.007.
The flow is not mixed, but pure forced convection. Using Eq. (6), find
h = ( 0.0274 W / m ⋅ K / 0.150m ) 0.664 ( 43,103) ( 0.705)
1/ 2 1/ 3
= 22.4 W / m 2 ⋅ K
and the allowable dissipation rate is
(
q′ = 22.4 W / m 2 ⋅ K 2 × 0.150m ) ( 60 − 25) °C = 235 W / m. <
COMMENTS: Be sure to compare dissipation rates to see relative importance of mixed flow
conditions.