Excel in ME

Nusselt numbers

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Functions
Functions return the local (Nu) or average (NuBar)
Nusselt number
hL
Nu
k

hL
NuBar Nu
k

The functions are reliable only over certain ranges. An

answer will be returned, but it is up to the user to decide
if it is adequate.
A warning will appear for values outside the reliable
range for the function.
Quiet - Each function has an optional Quiet input. True
or 1 will turn off the warnings. False if omitted.

Functions

Optional Inputs in italics

NuxPlate(Re, Pr, Rexc, Quiet)
NuBarPlate(Re, Pr, Rexc, Quiet)
NuDBarCyl(Re, Pr, Quiet)
NuDBarSphere(Re, Pr, mu_mus, Quiet)
NuDBarTubes(Re, Pr, St_D, Sl_D, Aligned, Nl, Quiet)
NuDBarZTubes(Re, Pr, Prs, St_Sl, Aligned, Nl, Quiet)
NuDBarLamTube(Re, Pr, D_L, Thermal, mu_mus,
Quiet)
NuDTurbTube(Re, Pr, Quiet)
NuDLiqMetals (Re, Pr, UniformT, Quiet)

Flat Plate, Local Nusselt Number

NuxPlate(Re, Pr, Rexc, Quiet)
Returns the local Nusselt number at x
Inputs based on the film temperature, Tf = (Ts+T)/2

Re - Reynolds number, Rex = V x /

Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
Rexc - Critical reynolds number. Reynolds number at transition point
from laminar to turbulent. If Re < Rexc, then laminar calculation.
Otherwise, the calculation is for turbulent flow. If omitted, Recx = 5 X
105

Ranges
For laminar, Pr 0.6
For turbulent, Rex 108, 0.6 Pr 60
V, T
Turbulent

Laminar
x

Ts

Flat Plate, Mean Nusselt Number

NuBarPlate(Re, Pr, Rexc, Quiet)
Returns the average Nusselt number from 0 to x
Inputs based on the film temperature, Tf = (Ts+T)/2

Re - Reynolds number, Rex = V x /

Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
Rexc - Critical reynolds number. Reynolds number at transition point
from laminar to turbulent. If Re < Rexc, then laminar calculation.
Otherwise, the calculation is for a mix of laminar and turbulent. If
omitted, Recx = 5 X 105

Ranges
For laminar, Pr 0.6
For mixed, ReL 108, 0.6 Pr 60
Rex, c

V, T
Laminar
x

Turbulent
Ts

Cylinder in crossflow
NuDBarCyl(Re, Pr, Quiet)
Returns the average Nusselt number for crossflow
over a cylinder
Inputs based on the film temperature, Tf = (Ts+T)/2
Re - Reynolds number, ReD = V D /
Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /

Range
ReD Pr 0.2

Sphere
NuDBarSphere(Re, Pr, mu_mus, Quiet)
Returns the average Nusselt number for flow over a
sphere
Inputs based on the ambient fluid temperature, T,
except s
Re - Reynolds number, ReD = V D /
Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
mu_mus - / s; viscosity ratio calculated from T and Ts at
the surface

Range
0.71 Pr 380
3.5 ReD 7.6 X 104

Bank of Tubes

NuDBarTubes(Re, Pr, St_D, Sl_D, Aligned, Nl, Quiet)

Returns the average Nusselt number for crossflow over a bank of tubes
Inputs based on the film temperature, Tf = (Ts+T)/2

Re - Reynolds number, ReD, max = Vmax D /

Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
St_D - Transverse spacing / Diameter, St / D
Sl_D - Longitudianl spacing / Diameter, Sl / D
Aligned - True or 1 for Aligned tubes, False or 0 for Staggered tubes. Aligned if
omitted.
Nl - Number of rows, if less than 10. Allows for correction factor if there are
less than 10 rows. If omitted, Nl 10

Vmax

Aligned

Aligned - Vmax = St V / (St-D)

Staggered
if 2 SD > St +D, same as aligned
else Vmax = V St / (SD-D)

Ranges
Pr 0.7
2000 ReD, max 40,000

Staggered
SD

St
St
Sl

Rows

Rows

Sl

Bank of Tubes, Zukauskas

NuDBarZTubes(Re, Pr, Prs, St_Sl, Aligned, Nl, Quiet)
Returns the average Nusselt number for crossflow over a bank of tubes
based on a new correlation by Zukauskas
Inputs based on the film temperature, Tf = (Ts+T)/2

Re - Reynolds number, ReD, max = Vmax D /

Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
Prs - Parndtl number calculated for the average of the inlet and outlet
temperatures
St_Sl - Transverse spacing / Longitudianl spacing, St / Sl
Aligned - True or 1 for Aligned tubes, False or 0 for Staggered tubes. Aligned if
omitted.
Nl - Number of rows, if less than 20. Allows for correction factor if there are
less than 20 rows. If omitted, Nl 20

Vmax

Aligned

Aligned - Vmax = St V / (St-D)

Staggered
if 2 SD > St +D, same as aligned
else Vmax = V St / (SD-D)

Ranges
0.7 Pr 500
1000 ReD, max 2 X 106

Staggered
SD

St
St
Sl

Rows

Rows

Sl

Laminar Flow in a Tube

NuBarLamTube(Re, Pr, D_L, Thermal, mu_mus, Quiet)

Returns the average Nusselt number for laminar flow through a circular tube
Function based on uniform surface temperature
Inputs based on the mean of the inlet and outlet temperatures, T m = (Ti+To)/2,
except s

Re - Reynolds number, ReD = V D /

Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
D_L - Diameter / Length, D / L
Thermal - True or 1 for Thermal entry length, False or 0 for combined entry length.
True if omitted.
Thermal entry assumes a fully developed velocity profile. For instance, if the tube is
preceded by a section where there is no heat transfer. Also gives a good approximation for
large Prandtl number fluids, like oil.
Combined entry has both the velocity and thermal profiles developing simultaneously.

mu_mus - / s; viscosity ratio calculated from Tm and Ts at the surface; only needed
for combined entry with Pr 5. 0 if omitted

Ranges for combined entry

Pr 0.6; For Pr 5, the answer is calculated with the thermal entry formula
0.0044 (/s) 9.75

Turbulent Flow in a Tube

NuDTurbTube(Re, Pr, Quiet)
Returns the Nusselt number for turbulent flow through
a circular tube
Inputs based on the mean of the inlet and outlet
temperatures, Tm = (Ti+To)/2
Re - Reynolds number, ReD = V D /
Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /

Range
0.5 Pr 2000
3000 ReD 5 X 106
L/D 10

Liquid metal flow through a tube

NuDLiqMetals (Re, Pr, UniformT, Quiet)
Returns the Nusselt number for liquid metal flow through a
circular tube
Other correlations do not apply to liquid metals
(3 X 10-3 Pr 5 X 10-2)

Inputs based on the mean of the inlet and outlet temperatures,

Tm = (Ti+To)/2
Re - Reynolds number, ReD = V D /
Pr - Parndtl number, Pr = cp / k = /
UniformT - True or 1 for uniform surface temperature, False or 0 for
uniform heat flux at surface. True if omitted.

Ranges
For uniform surface temperature
Peclet number, PeD = ReD X Pr 100

For uniform surface heat flux

3.6 X 103 ReD 9.05 X 105
102 PeD 104