A general expression for the correlation of rates of transfer and other phenomena

Abstract

Abstract The expression Y = (1 + Z n ) 1/ n where Y and Z are expressed in terms of the solutions for asymptotically large and small values of the independent variable is shown to be remarkably successful in correlating rates of transfer for processes which vary uniformly between these limiting cases. The arbitrary exponent n can be evaluated simply from plots of Y versus Z and Y / Z versus 1/ Z . The expression is quite insensitive to the choice of n and the closest integral value can be chosen for simplicity. The process of correlation can be repeated for additional variables in series. Illustrative applications are presented only for flow, conduction, forced convection, and free convection, but the expression and procedure are applicable to any phenomenon which varies uniformly between known, limiting solutions.