Thermal free convection from a solid sphere

Summary Thermal free convection from a sphere has been studied by melting solid benzene spheres in excess liquid benzene (Pr=8,3; 10⁸<Gr<10⁹). Overall heat transfer as well as local heat transfer were investigated. For the effect of cold liquid produced by the melting a correction has been applied. Results are compared with those obtained by other workers who used alternative experimental methods.Nomenclature coefficient of heat transfer - d characteristic length, here diameter of sphere - thermal conductivity - g acceleration of free fall - cubic expansion coefficient - T temperature difference between wall and fluid at infinity - kinematic viscosity - density - c specific heat capacity - a thermal diffusivity (=/c) - D diffusion coefficient - Nu dimensionless Nusselt number (=d/) - Nu* the analogous number for mass transfer (=kd/D) - mean value of Nusselt number - Gr dimensionless Grashof number (=gd ³T/ ²) - Gr* the analogous number for mass transfer (=gd ³x/ ²) - Pr dimensionless Prandtl number (=/a) - Sc dimensionless Schmidt number (=/D)