Enhanced Visualisation of Complex Thermofluid Data: Vertical and Horizontal Combined Convection and Microscale Heat Transfer Cases

In general convective heat transfer is an 'n-dimensional' problem where n is well in excess of 3 for steady flows. Traditionally the method of dimensional analysis results in a small number of dimensionless groups. The first part of the paper revises this subject using sets of data for: a. vertical combined convection in nuclear safety; b. horizontal combined convection review material; c. microchannel heat transfer. The conclusion is reached that heat transfer data are presented in either 'holistic' or 'reductive' modes, and other thermodynamic performance data are realted to the generic scientific cases of (a) 3-D space and (b) multidimensional spacee. In the seconda part of the paper a first attempt is made at applying design-type procedures.