PROBLEM 1.

68
KNOWN: Surface temperature, diameter and emissivity of a hot plate. Temperature of surroundings
and ambient air. Expression for convection coefficient.
FIND: (a) Operating power for prescribed surface temperature, (b) Effect of surface temperature on
power requirement and on the relative contributions of radiation and convection to heat transfer from
the surface.

SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Plate is of uniform surface temperature, (2) Walls of room are large relative to
plate, (3) Negligible heat loss from bottom or sides of plate.
ANALYSIS: (a) From an energy balance on the hot plate, Pelec = qconv + qrad = Ap ( q conv + q rad ) .
1/3
Substituting for the area of the plate and from Eqs. (1.3a) and (1.7), with h = 0.80 (Ts - T) , it
follows that

2
Pelec = D / 4

0.80 ( Ts T )

4/3

4
4
+ Ts Tsur

)
(

4
4
8
2
4/3
Pelec = ( 0.3m ) / 4 0.80 (175 )
473 298
+ 0.8 5.67 10

Pelec = 0.0707 m

W/m

783 W/m 2 + 1913 W/m 2 = 55.4 W + 135.2 W = 190.6 W

<

(b) As shown graphically, both the radiation and convection heat rates, and hence the requisite electric
power, increase with increasing surface temperature.
Effect of surface tem perature on electric power and heat rates
500

Heat rate (W)

400
300
200
100
0
100

150

200

250

300

Surface tem perature (C)

Pelec
qrad
qconv

However, because of its dependence on the fourth power of the surface temperature, the increase in
radiation is more pronounced. The significant relative effect of radiation is due to the small
2
convection coefficients characteristic of natural convection, with 3.37 h 5.2 W/m K for 100 Ts
< 300C.
COMMENTS: Radiation losses could be reduced by applying a low emissivity coating to the
surface, which would have to maintain its integrity over the range of operating temperatures.

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