FREE-CONVECTION FROM AN ELLIPTIC CYLINDER WITH MAJOR AXIS VERTICAL

The problem of free convection heat transfer from a horizontal elliptic cylinder placed with its major axis vertical in a fluid of infinite extent is investigated. The investigation is based on the solution of the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy. The problem is solved for Rayleigh numbers ranging from 10 to 1000 and for a constant value of Prandtl number (Pr = 0.7). The cylinder axis ratio (minor to major) varies from 0.1 to 0.964 approaching a flat plate at one end and a circular cylinder at the other. Results are presented for the local and average Nusselt numbers along with details of the thermal and velocity fields given in the form of isotherm and streamline patterns. The method of solution is validated by comparing results with the available theoretical and experimental data for the circular cylinder and the flat plate as limiting cases.