Effect of the angle of attack on the wind convection coefficient

• Published in: Solar energy 2011-05, Vol.85 (5), p.776-780
• Main Authors: Mahboub, C., Moummi, N., Moummi, A., Youcef-Ali, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angle of attack; Applied sciences; Boundary layer equation; Coefficients; Computational fluid dynamics; Convection; Convective heat transfer; Correlation analysis; Correlation equation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Flat plates; Forced convection over a flat plate; Heat transfer; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Natural energy; Numerical analysis; Nusselt number; Solar collectors; Solar energy; Solar thermal conversion; Wind convection coefficient
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2011.01.008

► The effect of the angle of attack on the wind convection coefficient was studied. ► An angle of attack factor Af was proposed basing on the boundary layer theory. ► A generalized equation of Af valid for various values of Pr was correlated. ► The curves of Af vs the angle of attack decrease for low Pr. ► The curves of Af vs increase into maxima and decrease thereafter for high Pr. In this study the effect of the positive angle of attack (angle between flat plate surface and incoming uniform flow) on the convective heat transfer coefficient was investigated numerically. In the case of inviscid flow, this effect was also presented analytically and was found to be in good agreement with the corresponding numerical results. From the obtained numerical data, an accurate correlation equation of Nusselt number was proposed by introducing the effect of the angle of attack in terms of a new factor A f . The variation of the convective heat transfer coefficient as a function of the angle of attack was found not behaves in the same manner for both small and large values of Prandtl number at small angles of attack.