Analytical Solutions of Nusselt Number for Thermally Developing Radial Flow Through Small Gap Between Two Parallel Disks

Closed form solutions are developed for heat transfer due to radial flow through small gap between two parallel isothermal disks. The thermal entrance length increases with an increase in Peclet number and decrease in the inner radius of the circular disks. The attainment of fully developed Nusselt number is slower for slug flow than for fully developed creeping flow. The effect of disk rotation can be incorporated through an effective pressure gradient. The presence of disk rotation increases the thermal entrance length. [DOI:10.1115/1.3013826]