Sherwood Number For Flat Plate In Laminar Flow Calculator

Sherwood Number Formula:

\[ \text{Average Sherwood Number} = 0.664 \times (\text{Reynolds Number})^{0.5} \times (\text{Schmidt Number})^{0.333} \]

Average Sherwood Number (Nsh):

Unit Converter ▲

Unit Converter ▼

From:	To:

1. What is the Sherwood Number for Flat Plate in Laminar Flow?

The Sherwood Number represents the ratio of convective mass transfer to diffusive mass transport rate. For a flat plate in laminar flow, it's calculated using the correlation that relates Reynolds Number and Schmidt Number to predict mass transfer characteristics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Sherwood Number formula:

\[ \text{Average Sherwood Number} = 0.664 \times (\text{Reynolds Number})^{0.5} \times (\text{Schmidt Number})^{0.333} \]

Where:

Reynolds Number (Re) — Ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces
Schmidt Number (Sc) — Ratio of momentum diffusivity to mass diffusivity
0.664 — Empirical constant for laminar flow over flat plate

Explanation: This correlation applies specifically to laminar flow conditions over a flat plate surface and provides the average Sherwood number across the entire plate length.

3. Importance of Sherwood Number Calculation

Details: The Sherwood Number is crucial for predicting mass transfer rates in various engineering applications, including chemical processing, environmental engineering, and heat/mass transfer equipment design.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter Reynolds Number and Schmidt Number as positive values. The calculator is valid for laminar flow conditions (typically Re < 5×10⁵ for flat plates).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What flow regime does this formula apply to?
A: This formula applies specifically to laminar flow over a flat plate surface.

Q2: What are typical ranges for Reynolds and Schmidt Numbers?
A: Reynolds Number typically ranges from 10³ to 5×10⁵ for laminar flow, while Schmidt Numbers range from 0.1 to 10,000 depending on the fluid system.

Q3: When is this correlation valid?
A: This correlation is valid for constant property fluids, isothermal conditions, and smooth flat plates with no pressure gradient.

Q4: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: The equation assumes fully developed laminar flow, constant surface concentration, and negligible buoyancy effects.

Q5: How does this relate to heat transfer correlations?
A: The Sherwood Number for mass transfer is analogous to the Nusselt Number for heat transfer, following similar mathematical forms.