Convective heat transfer in small cylindrical enclosures heated from below

Free convection in enclosed air spaces is often of prime importance in the design and analysis of panels utilizing the insulating properties of air and other gases. Previous investigations were performed on very thin air layers. This thesis presents the results of an experimental investigation to determine the heat transfer by convection and conduction through air layers with relative sizes in terms of length/diameter ratios of one-fourth to one. Eight cylindrical samples were tested. Four had inside diameters of 2.0 inches, and the others were 2.75 inches in diameter. Heat was transferred across the air layers by both conduction and free convection with the axis of the cylindrical enclosure in the vertical direction, and the heated surface below. Air at atmospheric pressure was used as the convecting fluid in each sample --Abstract, page ii