The experimental studies in thermal convection from a line burner was already performed by A. O. Rankine and some discussions about the results were made by Dr. P. H. Thomas, This is a very difficult problem to solve exactly, but so far as the approximate solution is concerned, Rankine’s similarity theory and Thomas’ dimensional analysis are very excellent and useful.
Now, the similar results in the case of a rectangular heat source are wanted. The author has first begun the similar experiment on a line heat source of high temperature, made by burning alcohol and attempted to compare the results with Rankine’s low temperature case. The experiment was performed in a brief wind tunnel. Alcohol was burned in the vessel 85cm. long and 1cm. wide. This vessel was placed in the wind tunnel, orienting its longer side perpendicular to the wind direction.
The results are summarized as follows :
(1) The total heat quantity contained in the flow, is estimated to be 70~80% of the heat produced by the combustion of alcohol. But this contained heat is lost gradually through the floor and the wall of the tunnel. At the point 100cm. downwind of the source, the heat quantity contained in the flow is estimated to be 40~50% of the initial heat quantity.
(2) The measured vertical temperature distribution (x≧20cm.) in the flow is fitted better to the curve represented in
φΩ1/4 and (
z/
x)
Ω3/4 coordinates than to the one represented in
φΩ-0.14 and (
z/
x)
Ω3/4 coordinates.
(3) The wake is performed behind vessel of alcohol and so in the region very near to the heat source, the heat is diffused distorting to the downward. In this region, the temperature distribution approaches to the one from a plain heat source rather than from a line heat source.
(4) The above mentioned results are obtained on the assumption that the local wind velocity in the tunnel and the density of the hot gas does not vary from the unheated condition. This is not strictly correct and the author admits that the results obtained are the only approximate solution.
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