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What is Grashof Number?

The Grashof number is a dimensionless number, named after  Franz Grashof. The Grashof number is defined as the ratio of the buoyant to viscous force acting on a fluid in the velocity boundary layer. Its role in natural convection is much the same as that of the Reynolds number in forced convection.

Natural convection is used if this motion and mixing is caused by density variations resulting from temperature differences within the fluid. Usually the density decreases due to an increase in temperature and causes the fluid to rise. This motion is caused by the buoyant force. The major force that resists the motion is the viscous force. The Grashof number is a way to quantify the opposing forces.
The Grashof number is defined as:

where:
g is acceleration due to Earth’s gravity
β is the coefficient of thermal expansion
Twall is the wall temperature
T is the bulk temperature
L is the vertical length
ν is the kinematic viscosity.
For gases β = 1/T where the temperature is in K. For liquids β can be calculated if variation of density with temperature at constant pressure is known. For a vertical flat plate, the flow turns turbulent for value of Gr.Pr > 109. As in forced convection the microspic nature of flow and convection correlations are distinctly different in the laminar and turbulent regions.
The Grashof number is closely related to Rayleigh number, which is defined as the product of the Grashof number, which describes the relationship between buoyancy and viscosity within a fluid, and the Prandtl number, which describes the relationship between momentum diffusivity and thermal diffusivity.

Example: Grashof Number

A vertical plate is maintained at 50°C in 20°C air. Determine the height at which the boundary layer will turn turbulent if turbulence sets in at Gr.Pr = 109.
Solution:
The property values required for this example are:
ν = 1.48 x 10-5 m2/s
ρ = 1.17 kg/m3
Pr = 0.700
β = 1/ (273 + 20) = 1/293
We know the natural circulation becomes turbulent at Gr.Pr > 109, which is fulfilled at the following height:


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