The Eckert number (Ec) is a dimensionless number used in continuum mechanics. It expresses the relationship between a flow's kinetic energy and the boundary layer enthalpy difference, and is used to characterize heat transfer dissipation.[1] It is named after Ernst R. G. Eckert.
It is defined as
![{\displaystyle \mathrm {Ec} ={\frac {u^{2}}{c_{p}\Delta T}}={\frac {\mbox{Advective Transport}}{\mbox{Heat Dissipation Potential}}}}](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
where
- u is the local flow velocity of the continuum,
- cp is the constant-pressure local specific heat of the continuum,
is the difference between wall temperature and local temperature.
References
- ^ "Table of Dimensionless Numbers" (PDF). cchem.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 31 March 2023.