Numerical Study of Convective Heat Transfer on the Horizontal Isothermal Rotating Disk

A numerical analysis of the transient convective flow and heat transfer on a horizontal isothermal rotating disk is presented. Simulation is carried out by solving the axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equation adhering to the Boussinesq approximation coupled to the energy equation for three Rayleigh numbers Ra = 8.4×103, 6.7×104, and 5.4×105, and varying Reynolds number (up to 1.03×104) as parameters. This paper describes isotherms, flow patterns on the isothermal rotating disk, and velocity vectors at the γ-z plane, as well as local heat transfer profile and the comparison of the average Nusselt numbers to Wagner's theoretical approximation. Numerical results demonstrate that the transient mixed convection flow and heat transfer take a minimum value by a certain Reynolds number at given Ra.