Chapter 3

Convection Heat
Transfer
 Objectives

Student should be able to:

i. define heat transfer process through
convection
ii. differentiate between conduction and
convection heat transfer
iii. differentiate between free and force
convection
 Convection Heat Transfer

- Convection is the transfer of thermal energy

(heat) by the mixing and motion of a fluid
(gas or liquid) due to the density differences
of the fluid.
Convection Heat Transfer

- The transfer of heat by

mixing the warmer
portions of the fluid
with the cooler
portions.

Figure 3.1
Convection Heat Transfer

- Density differences in
the fluid arising from
the heating process
provide the buoyancy
force required to move
the fluid.

- Hot fluids are lighter

than cool fluid & tend
Figure 3.1
to rise.
 Convection Heat Transfer
- The hot air rises. This
leaves empty space at
the bottom of the
column of rising air.

- Cold air moves into the

empty space and the
fire warms it. The
newly warmed air also
rises.
Figure 3.2
 Convection Heat Transfer
- As the warm air gets
close to the ceiling, it
loses some heat. Now
this air is cooler. It
follows the cool air
which is falling.

- The cool air falls and

then is drawn upwards
again.
Figure 3.2
 Conduction & Convection

- In the bulk of fluid , mode of heat transfer is

convection, but in the region near the walls
e.g. the heat exchanger wall, the fluid will
slow down to such an extent that no
movement of the fluid will occur & the
predominant mode of heat transfer is
conduction.
 Boundary Layer

- Boundary layer - the region of flow which

develops from the leading edge of the plate
in which the effects of viscosity are
observed.
 Boundary Layer

- We define the thickness of this boundary

layer as the distance from the wall to the
point where the velocity is 99% of the "free
stream" velocity, the velocity in the middle
of the stream.

- At the wall , the velocity is zero and the heat

transfer into the fluid takes place by
conduction.
 Boundary Layer

- However, flow of heat from the fluid to the

metal surface (or vice versa) is greatly
restricted in the boundary layer.

- Overcome this by forced convection, the

fluid is pumped through the system.
Boundary Layer

Figure 3.3
 Types of Heat Convection

- Heat convection can be classified into two

types:

1. Free Convection
2. Force Convection
 Free Convection

- Occurs as a result of temperature differences

within the fluid.

- Also occurs when a solid surface is in

contact with fluid which is at different
temperature from the surface.

- These temperature differences cause

differing fluid densities.
 Free Convection

- The less dense fluid

rises because of its
relatively high
buoyancy.

- Fluid is moving not

by force.

Figure 3.4
 Force Convection

- It refers to the case when the fluid is made

to flow by some external agent, like a
pump.

- Example:
i. The transfer of heat from the surface of a
heat exchanger to the bulk of a fluid being
pumped through the heat exchanger.
 Force Convection

ii. Heating a room by

means of a fan
forced heater.

iii. Mechanical
agitation greatly
increase the
mixing of the fluid.

Figure 3.5
 Conduction vs. Convection
Conduction Convection
- Transfer of heat by the - Involves the transfer of
interaction between heat by the mixing and
adjacent molecules of a motion of a fluid due to
material. the density differences.

- Formula: - Formula:

T Q = hA(Ts T )
Q = kA
x
 Convection Heat Transfer
Differences between Free Convection & Force
Convection:

Free Convection Force Convection

- Occurs as a result of - Refers to the case
temperature when the fluid is
differences within made to flow by
the fluid. Fluid is external agent such
not moving by as pump and fan.
force.
 Objectives

Student should be able to:

i. Apply the Newtons Law of Cooling
equation in solving the Convection Heat
Transfer problems.

ii. Determine convection heat transfer

coefficient, h in both Free & Force
Convection..
Convection
 Objectives

iii. Apply the dimensionless number in solving

the heat convection problems.

iv. Determine the heat transfer rate by

convection, Q .
 Overview

Convection heat transfer would be

associated with :
i. Types of convection (free/force)
ii. The role of dimensionless number in
calculation of heat transfer

Free convection would be associated with :

i. Vertical plate & cylinder
ii. Horizontal plate & cylinder
 Overview

Forced Convection would be associated with :

i. Flat plate - laminar & turbulent flow
ii. Cylinders
iii. Spheres
 Introduction

- Heat transfer by convection varies from

situation to situation (upon the fluid flow
conditions) and it is frequently coupled with
the mode of fluid flow (laminar or
turbulent).
 Introduction

- Typically, convective heat transfer

coefficient (h
(h) for laminar flow is relatively
low compared to the convective heat
transfer coefficient for turbulent flow.

- This is due to turbulent flow having a

thinner stagnant fluid film layer (boundary
layer) on the heat transfer surface.
 Introduction

- Many applications involving heat transfer

take place within pipes, tubes, flat plates,
spheres or some cylindrical device.
 Heat Convection

- Newtons Law of Cooling:

Q = h A (Ts-T) 3.1

Where:
Q = rate of heat transfer
h = convection heat transfer coefficient
A = surface area
Ts = surface/wall temperature
T = fluid/bulk temperature
 Example 1
A 22 ft uninsulated steam line crosses a
room. The outer diameter of the steam line
is 18 in. and the outer surface is 280 F. The
convective heat transfer coefficient for air is
Btu/hr-ft2-F. Calculate the heat transfer
18 Btu/hr-
rate from the pipe into the room if the room
72F.
temperature is 72
 Convection Heat Transfer
Coefficient
- The convection heat transfer coefficient, h is
also known as film conductance.

- For the calculation of heat transfer, q in

equation 3.1, the value for h has to be
determined first for either in natural or
force convection ( if the value of h is not
given).
 Convection Heat Transfer
Coefficient
- Therefore, the value of heat transfer
coefficient, h must be evaluated from the
Nusselt No.

- The S.I unit for h is W/m2K and in English

unit is btu/hr.ft2. F
 Free Convection
U, Velocity
- Free Convection would be
associated with:
Ts U
i. vertical plane &
cylinder
T
ii. horizontal plane &
cylinder
x

- In Figure 3.6 the vertical y

flat plate is heated & the
free convection boundary
layer is formed. Distance
Figure 3.6
 Free Convection
U, Velocity
- Velocity profiles differ
from force convection.
Tw U

- U (velocity) near the wall Tb

& the other edge of the
boundary layer = 0
y

- Initially the flow is x

laminar but at some
distance becomes
turbulent. Distance
Figure 3.6
 Free Convection
- The rate of the convection
heat transfer, Q would be
computed exactly the same
for both plates & cylinders.
H - Before we determine the
Q, we have to calculate the
convection heat transfer
coefficient.
- However, h must be
evaluated from the Nusselt
W No. (Nu
(Nu).
).
Figure 3.7
 Dimensionless Number
- The Nusselt number ((NuNu)) represents the
enhancement of heat transfer through a fluid layer
as a result of convection relative to conduction
across the same fluid layer.
- Heat flux through the fluid layer by convection and
by conduction can be expressed as, respectively:
T
qconv = hT qcond = k
L
- Taking their ratio gives
q&conv hT hL
= = = Nu 3.2
q&cond k T / L k
- Nu
Nu=1
=1 pure conduction.
 Dimensionless Number

- It has been found that the free convection

heat transfer coefficient can be represented
in the following form for a variety of
circumstances :

Nu f = C (Grf . Pr f ) n
3.3
 Dimensionless Number

- Where, the subscript f indicates that the

properties in the dimensionless groups are
evaluated at the film temperature.

Ts + T
Tf = 3.4
2
Where:
T = fluid or bulk temperature.
Ts= Surface temperature.
 Dimensionless Number

- For an isothermal vertical surface or plate,

the free convection heat transfer coefficient
can be expressed by the following general
equation:

gT C p
3 2
= C (Gr. Pr) = C ( )
hLc L
Nu = n c n
3.5
k 2 k
 Dimensionless Number
Where;
C, n = constants from Table 9-9-1
= density in kg/m3
= viscosity in kg/m.s
T = the positive temp. difference between
the wall & the bulk fluid or vice versa in K
Cp = heat capacity in J/kg.K
= volumetric coefficient of expansion of the
fluid in 1/K (For gas = 1/Tf ; Tf = (Tw+
Tb)/2 )
g = 9.81 m/s2
 Dimensionless Number

- The Grashof No. ((Gr

Gr),), can be interpreted
physically as a dimensionless no. that
represents the ratio of buoyancy forces to
the viscous forces in free convection.

- Grashof No. plays a role similar to the

Reynolds No. (Re
(Re)) in forced convection.
 Dimensionless Number

- The relative thickness of the velocity and

the thermal boundary layers is best
described by the dimensionless parameter
Prandtl number (Pr),, defined as

Molecular diffusivity of momentum c p

Pr = = = 3.6
Molecular diffusivity of heat k
 Dimensionless Number

- The product of the Grashof ((Gr

Gr)) & Prandtl
No. (Pr
(Pr)) is known as Rayleigh No. (Ra
(Ra))
where;
Ra = Gr. Pr 3.7

- The characteristic dimension to be used in

Nu & Gr No. depends on the geometry of the
problem.
- For a vertical plate, it is the height of the
plate; H (as shown in Figure 3.7).
 Nusselt Number

- Vertical Plate and Vertical Cylinder

2
0.387 RaL
1/ 6

Nu = 0.825 +
1 [
+ (0 .492 / Pr)9 / 16
] 8 / 27

3.8

Range of Ra: Entire Range

Note: A vertical cylinder can be treated as a
vertical plate when 35L
D 1/ 4
GrL
 Nusselt Number

- Horizontal Cylinder
2
0.387 Ra D
1/ 6

Nu = 0.6 +
1 [
+ ( 0.559 / Pr) 9 / 16
] 8 / 27

3.9

Range of Ra: Ra D 10 12
 Nusselt Number

- Sphere
1/ 4
0.589 RaD
Nu = 2 +
[
1 + (0.469/ Pr)9 /16
] 4/ 9 3.10

Range of Ra: Ra D 10 11
(Pr 0.7)
 Example 2

A heated vertical wall 0.305 m high of an

oven for baking food with the surface at
450F (505.4 K) is in contact with air at
450
100F (311 K). Calculate the heat transfer
100
coefficient & heat transfer/ft (0.305 m)
width of wall. Note that heat transfer for
radiation will not be considered.
 Example 3

A 6-m-long section of an 8-cm-diameter

horizontal hot-water pipe shown in Fig. 3.8
passes through a large room whose
temperature is 20C. If the outer surface
temperature of the pipe is 70C, determine
the rate of heat loss from the pipe by natural
convection.

Figure 3.8