Effect of the use of the balance and gradient methods as a result of experimental investigations of natural convection action with regard to the conception and construction of measuring apparatus

Measurement apparatus designed and constructed according to conceptions of the authors, enabled a more precise calculation of the heat transfer coefficient with the balance and gradient methods. Construction and use of the apparatus and devices are described below, results of experimental investigations for horizontal and vertical, isothermal, flat plates obtained independently with the balance and gradient methods, are also presented. The following equations were found:Nu=0.612 · (Ra)^1/4 10⁴ ≦Ra ≦ 10⁸ for vertical platesNu=0.766 · (Ra)^1/5 10⁴ ≦Ra ≦ 10⁷ Nu=0.173 · (Ra)^1/3 10⁵ ≦Ra≦ 10⁸ for horizontal plates. On the basis of the results obtained from both these methods, differences of natural convection acting from vertical and horizontal plates are discussed. The usefulness of the balance and gradient methods have been considered for qualitative and quantitative investigations of heat transfer by natural convection.