THERMALLY DEVELOPING LAMINAR-FLOW INSIDE RECTANGULAR DUCTS

Laminar forced convection inside rectangular ducts is analytically studied by extending the generalized integral transform technique, allowing for the solution of convection-diffusion problems with non-separable eigenvalue problems. Reference results are established for quantities of practical interest within the thermal entry region, for a wide range of the axial variable and various aspect ratios. The accuracy of previously reported results from direct numerical approaches is then critically examined, for both the developing and fully developed regions. © 1990.