Effect of Plate Inclination on Natural Convection From a Plate to Its Cylindrical Enclosure

Presented in this paper are the local and mean heat transfer coefficients for an inclined, thin, heated flat surface enclosed in a long isothermal cylinder. Holographic interferometry was used to identify variations of the convective coefficient on both sides of the plate. There are significant local variations when the surface is oriented at different angles to the gravitation vector. An overall heat transfer coefficient is identified which is influenced by opposing inclination effects on either side of the surface. Results are significantly different from those of a surface in an infinite environment due to the recirculation required by the enclosure geometry. The effects of inclination become minor at angles greater than 60 deg from the horizontal.