HEAT TRANSFER TO SPHERES AT LOW TO INTERMEDIATE REYNOLDS NUMBERS

The Navier-Stokes equation and the energy equation are solved using the Galerkin finite element method for flow past a solid sphere at low to intermediate Reynolds numbers. The calculated results are compared with exact theories valid for small or large Peclet numbers. A correlation is provided to predict the numerical results for ranges of Prandtl number from 0.001 to 1000 and Reynolds numbers from 1 to 100. A new correlation is proposed that matches the theoretical results at low Peclet numbers, the numerical results at intermediate Peclet numbers, and the existing experimental data at intermediate to high Peclet numbers.