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Laboratory Experiment - Thermal Convection PDF
Laboratory Experiment - Thermal Convection PDF
Purpose:
To identify the properties of convective heat-transfer and to measure the convective heat-transfer
coefficient from a flat metal surface into air.
Theory:
A primary concern in engineering is the analysis of heat-transfer problems with regard to the rate at
which heat is to be transferred under given conditions. Whenever two systems at different
temperatures make contact, or when there is a temperature gradient within a system, energy is being
transferred. Heat transfer is the process by which energy is transported from one point to another in
the form of conduction, convection, or radiation, or any combination of these three methods.
Radiation is energy transfer from a material into surrounding space by electromagnetic waves (infrared
rays) and requires no material agent (medium) to accomplish the transfer. Radiant heat is readily
transmitted through a vacuum.
Heat transfer by conduction is a significantly different process than radiation. In conduction, energy is
diffused through a material by the thermal motion of microscopic particles that make up the material.
Of course, a temperature gradient must exist in order of this transfer to take place.
When conduction occurs in a fluid in motion, the relative motion affects the thermal energy diffusion
to such an extent that a special name, convection, is used to identify this process. Convection is an
energy transport process involving the combined action of heat conduction, energy storage, and
mixing motion. Heat transfers by conduction from solid surface to adjacent fluid particles, increasing
their temperature and internal energy. These fluid particles will then move to a region of lower
temperature in the fluid and transfer a portion of their energy to other fluid particles.
Two distinct methods for motivating convective heat flow are called free convection and forced
convection. Forced convection implies that some outside agent, such as a blower or pump, is the
primary mixing motion source, while free convection implies a natural mixing motion.
The rate of heat transfer by convection between a surface and a fluid can be calculated by:
𝑄
𝑅= = ℎ𝑐 𝐴∆𝑇 (1)
𝑡
𝑄
ℎ𝑐 = (2)
𝐴∆𝑇𝑡
defines the convective heat-transfer coefficient as the amount of heat that a surface area cf 1 square
foot will deliver to the air each hour for each degree of temperature difference.
Some typical average convective heat-transfer coefficients are given in Table TH-2A.1.
An important conversion to be used in this experiment is the relationship: 1 watt = 3.41 Btu/hr
Equipment description:
The TH-2 Thermal Convection unit is self-contained except for 120-volt AC electricity. It is comprised
of:
1. A 4 x 8 inch flat metal plate with 1 built-in electrical heater. The plate is hingedto the TH-2 base
unit to allow convection tests in varying degrees of vertical and horizontal positions. The plate
temperature is controlled by a five-position rotary HEATER CONTROL marked OFF-24-40-
60-100, with the numbers referring to watts.
2. A dial thermometer (50-500°) to measure the plate temperature when inserted in 1 hole along
the edge of the plate.
3. Two liquid thermometers having dual scales (-10°F to +230°F and -20°C to +110°C) and 1-
inch composiiton squares attached to their backs. The squares prevent the thermometers from
sliding through the air-duct slots when placed in position for measuring the air-flow
temperatures.
4. A perforated metal cage to act as a protective screen against accidental burns when placed
over the heater plate during still-air (free convective) test.
Procedure:
Questions:
1. Is there a difference in convective heat-transfer in still air for a metal plate in the vertical and
horizontal positions? Explain you answer.
2. How do the heta-transfer characteristics change with regard to free convectiion and forced
convection?
3. How does the so-called “wind-chill factor” enter into a measure of the coldness of a winter
day?
4. Is there any significant change in ℎ𝑐 for the different wattage settings in any one test?
Reference: