Composite correlations for convective heat transfer from arrays of three-dimensional obstacles

Experiments were performed to develop empirical correlations applicable to single-phase forced-convection heat transfer from inline arrays of three-dimensional heated elements in channels. To generalize the results from particular sets of experiments to a range of geometric, thermal and flow configurations, thermal wake functions were proposed or used to predict the local temperatures in an array of heated protruding elements in air flow. Correlations restricted to air and liquid flows were also proposed. Although temperatures predicted by these methods compared favorably with experimental data, there is a continuing need for composite correlations that can predict element-averaged heat transfer coefficients in air and liquid flows.