Forced Convenction lab report

1. Introduction
1. 1 Overview

Convection is the way of heat tranfer through the fluid in the pressure of bulk flui motion.
Convection can’t take place in most solids because neither bulk current flows nor significant
diffusion of matter can take place. It is classified as natural and forced convection depending on
how fluid motion is initiated. In natural convection, the fluid motion is generated by natural
means like buoyancy effects that are induced by density difference due to the variation of
temperature. In contrast forced convection involves pump or fan to induce fluid motion.
Convection heat transfer is a bit complicated as it combines both heat conduction and fluid
motion. The rate of fluid flow enhances heat transfers, the higher fluid velocity, the higher heat
is transferred. The convection heat transfer is expressed by newton’s law of cooling:

𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣 = ℎ 𝐴𝑠 (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )

Where : ℎ is the convective heat transfer coefficient that strongly depends on fluid properties and
surface roughness of the solid, 𝐴𝑠 is the surface area while 𝑇𝑠 and 𝑇∞ are surface temperature
and far from the surface temperature respectively

Fig example of heat transfer to air from the hot block.

Assuming that the velocity of the fluid is zero at the wall, this assumption is called no –slip
condition. This means that as there is no fluid motion at the surface ant the heat is transfered
from hot block to the adjacent surface fluid layer(air) by only conduction.

𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣
𝜕𝑇
−𝑘𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝜕𝑦 |𝑦=0 = ℎ(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 𝜕𝑇
−𝑘𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 |
𝜕𝑦 𝑦=0
→ℎ=
(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )

In convection, it is a general practice to non dimensinalize the governing equations and combines
the variable together into dimentionless numbers. These include nusselts number, reynold
number, and prandlt number.

I. Nusselts Number

Nusselts number(𝑁𝑢) is a non-dimensional heat transfer coefficient that represents the

enhancement of heat transfer through a fluid as results of of convection relative to conduction
across the same fluid layer. It is given by:

ℎ 𝛿 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣
𝑁𝑢 = =
𝑘 𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑

Where : 𝛿 is the lenght characteristic;i.e D for tube and L for flat plat.

II. Reynold Number

Reynold number(𝑅𝑒) is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid which is
subjected to relative internal movement due to different fluid velocities, in what is known as
a boundary layer in the case of a bounding surface such as the interior of a pipe or flat plate. Re
is useful to distinguish if flow is laminar or turbulent. The Re at which flow becomes turbulent
is known as critical Reynold number. For a flat plat critical Reynold number was experimentally
determined to be 5*105 . mathematically Re is given by:

𝜌𝑉 𝛿 𝑉𝛿
𝑅𝑒 = =
𝜇 𝑣

Where: 𝜌 is the fluid density, 𝑉 is the fluid velocity and 𝜇 is the dynamic visicosity of the fluid.

III. Prandlt Number

This is a measure of the relative thickness of the velocity to the thermal boundary. It mathecally
given as:

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝜇 𝑐𝑝 𝑣

𝑃𝑟 = = =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑘 𝛼
𝑘
Where: 𝑐𝑝 is the specific heat capacity and 𝛼 is thermal diffusivity = 𝜌𝐶𝑝

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 1.2 Application of forced convection

This mechanism is found very commonly in everyday life, including central heating, air
conditioning, steam turbines and in many other machines. Forced convection is often
encountered by engineers designing or analyzing heat exchangers, pipe flow, and flow over a
plate at a different temperature than the stream

1. 3 Objectives

The objectives of the experiment are to heat transfer coefficientof singlr tube in forced
convection and also heat enhancement due to turbulence in tube bundles.

2. Expermental methodology

2.1 Data for P3219 data for cross flow heat exchanger

Voltmeter: 0-30 volts RMS dc-digital panel

Ammeter: 0-4 amps RMS 140mm × 140 𝑚𝑚

Tube bundle : pitch (12.7mm dia. Tubes) =20mm(1.6×d)

Blant tube: length 142 mm Diameter 12.7mm

Heated tube: length 142 mm Diameter 9.5

Each tube contains an embedded type k thermocouple.

Temperature readout: Digital panel meter with selection to read either Ta(inlet air) or Th –
Ta(heated/air differential) temperatures

Heated trip: Factory set to heater temperature of 800 C

2.2 Preliminary

A largely heated tube of 12.7mm diameter was placed into a clear acrlylic resin housing given.
This housing was mounted in the black acrylic resin working section using the brass knurled
head screws to clamp it into position. Couple supply and thermocouple leaded form the heater
control unit. The control unit was switched on, with the heater supply turned to to the minimum
value, and the control unit was allowed to stabilize in the temperature before commencing the
experiment. The stabilization period was of the order of 30 minutes so the meaningful results
could be found.

With the bench, supply switched on the bench mounted fan was started with the flow control
valve fully closed. `when the fan had run up to maximum speed, the follow control valve was

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

fully opened to give maximum readin at the pitot static tube manometer, with the pitot head
positioned approximately in the center of the duct. The input voltage was adjusted to the heater
tube to arrive at a steady temperature difference between the tub surface(measured by an
embeded thermocouple) and ambient inlet air (Th-Ta) of around 40degree celcius.

The value of Th-Ta, heater voltage, and current, pitot static tube readin was recorded. The
investigations were reapeated of pitot static tube readings, i.e., from outlet valve fully opened, to
minimum measurable flw. In every case, Th-Ta was maintened at 40 degree celcius. The above
procedure was reapeated using the 9.5mm diameter heated tube.

Air flow Bench Sketch

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 3. Results and calculation

Pressures in mm of water was obtained from

𝑃1 1.35 × 103 × 1000

ℎ1 = = = 137.61 𝑚𝑚 𝐻2 𝑂
𝜌𝑔 1000 × 9.81
𝑃 1.125×103 ×1000
ℎ2 = 𝜌𝑔2 = = 114.68 𝑚𝑚 𝐻2 𝑂
1000×9.81

Sample calculation shown above are for the two first run, but the rest were calculated using the
same formula and are presented here below in table 1

Table 1. Collected data during forced convenction experiment.

Pitot reading
mm
Pressure(kPa) H2O Ta Th-Ta Voltage Current
1 1.35 137.61 40 27.2 8.5 0.96
2 1.125 114.68 40.3 26.7 8.5 0.91
3 0.9 91.74 40.4 26.7 8.75 0.94
4 0.675 68.81 40 25.5 8 0.84
5 0.45 45.87 40 26.3 7.5 0.75
6 0.225 22.94 40.4 25.8 7.5 0.78

3.1 Calculation of free velocity

Free velocity is obtained from 𝑉 = √(2∆𝑃/𝜌) 𝑚/𝑠

𝑃𝑎 𝑇
Where ∆𝑃 = 𝑚𝑚𝐻2 𝑂 × 9.807 𝑃𝑎 and 𝜌 = 1.293 𝑃𝑜
× 𝑇0
𝑎

Where Pa=atmospheric pressure in Nairobi = (870 mm bar), Po= atmospheric at sea level
=(1013 mm bar), Ta: duct inlet air temperature [K] and To= 273 K.

Sample calculation for first run

∆𝑃1 = 137.61 × 9.807 = 1349.54 𝑃𝑎

87000 273
𝜌1 = 1.293 × = 1.00986 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
1013000 300.2
Then

1349.54 𝑚
𝑉1 = √2 × = 51.6985
1.032 𝑠

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

Table 2. Calculated ∆𝑃 densities and velocities using the same formula above shown

Th-Ta Ta
∆𝑃 Density Velocity(m/s)
1 40 27.2
1349.54 1.009858 51.6985
2 40.3 26.7
1124.67 1.011543 47.15577
3 40.4 26.7
899.694 1.011543 42.17648
4 40 25.5
674.82 1.015609 36.45403
5 40 26.3
449.847 1.012895 29.80337
6 40.4 25.8
224.973 1.01459 21.05885

3.2 Determination of the reynold number

𝑑1 𝑣 𝜌
𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇𝑓

Where 𝑑 = 0.0127 𝑚

Here the film temperature is evaluated for each case, then 𝜇𝑓 is obtained by interpolation at film
temperature using saturated liquid table and Re number is calculated.

Sample calculation for the first run other results were calculated and are presented in table 3.
(𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝑎 )+𝑇𝑎 +𝑇𝑎
Tfilm = 2

T1Film =(40+27.2+27.2):2 =47.2 deg cel = 320.2K

320.2 − 300 𝑚
𝜇𝐹 = 1.846 + (1.962 − 1.846) × 10−3 = 1.9397 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔
325 − 300 𝑠

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 Table.3 Calculated reynold number using the same formula above shown.

Density Velocity Tfilm(K) 𝜇𝐹 Re

1 1.009858 51.6985 320.2 1.94E-05 34182.780
2 1.011543 47.15577 319.8 1.94E-05 31256.885
3 1.011543 42.17648 319.9 1.94E-05 27953.052
4 1.015609 36.45403 318.3 1.93E-05 24350.811
5 1.012895 29.80337 319.3 1.94E-05 19807.445
6 1.01459 21.05885 319 1.93E-05 14029.310

3.3 Calculation of power and covenctive heat transfer coefficient

𝒒
= ℎ(𝑇𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝑇𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 ) = ℎ(𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑎 )
𝑨
𝑞/𝐴 𝑉𝐼
𝒉= =
𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑎 𝜋𝐷𝑙 (𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑎 )

𝑙 = 142 × 10−3 𝑚 and 𝑞 = 𝑉𝐼, Sample calculation for first run, Other vaulue of h were
caluculated using the same formula and are presented in table 4

𝑞1 = 𝑉1 𝐼1 = 0.96 × 8.5 = 8.160 watts

𝑞1 8.160
𝒉𝟏 = = = 36𝑤/𝑚2 𝐾
𝜋𝐷𝑙 (𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑎 )1 𝜋 × .0127 × 0.142 × 40

𝑞2 8.5 × 0.91 𝑤
𝒉𝟐 = = = 33.8 2
𝜋𝐷𝑙 (𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑎 )2 𝜋 × .0127 × 0.142 × 40.3 𝑚 𝐾

Table 4. calculated value of power covective heat transfer coefficient(h)

h(𝑤/𝑚2 𝐾)
Th-Ta Ta Voltage Current Power
1 8.160 36.01
40 27.2 8.5 0.96
2 7.735 33.88
40.3 26.7 8.5 0.91
3 8.225 35.93
40.4 26.7 8.75 0.94
4 6.720 29.65
40 25.5 8 0.84
5 5.625 24.82
40 26.3 7.5 0.75
6 5.850 25.56
40.4 25.8 7.5 0.78

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

3.4 Calcultion of nusselt Number

ℎ𝑜 𝑑
𝑵𝒖 =
𝐾𝑓

The value 𝐾𝑓 are obtained from saturated liquid table at film temperature presented in
table 3

Sample calculation for first run

36.01 × 12.7 × 102

𝑵𝒖𝟏 = = 16.581
2.758 × 103
Other values of nusselts number were calculated using the same formula and are present
in table 5 below

Table 5. calculated nusselt numbers for differents run.

1 2 3 4 5 6
h(w/m2 K) 36.01 36.01 36.01 36.01 36.01 36.01
Nu 16.580 16.580 16.580 16.580 16.580 16.580

Table 6 Sumary of calculation

∆𝑃 Density Velocity Re Power h Nu ln Re ln Nu

1349.54 1.009858 51.6985 34182.780 8.160 36.01 16.580 10.43948 2.808225
1124.67 1.011543 47.15577 31256.885 7.735 33.88 15.600 10.34999 2.747264
899.694 1.011543 42.17648 27953.052 8.225 35.93 16.547 10.23828 2.806209
674.82 1.015609 36.45403 24350.811 6.720 29.65 13.654 10.10032 2.614069
449.847 1.012895 29.80337 19807.445 5.625 24.82 11.430 9.893813 2.436202
224.973 1.01459 21.05885 14029.310 5.850 25.56 11.769 9.548904 2.465472

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 4. Result Discussion

2.85
2.8
2.75
2.7 ln Nu = 0.04518 ln Re - 1.9144

2.65
ln Nu

2.6
2.55
2.5
2.45
2.4
2.35
9.4 9.6 9.8 10 10.2 10.4 10.6
ln Re

Fig. Plot of ln Nu versus ln Re

As it is indicated on the graph, the best straight line that fit data has a slope of 0.0451.The
straight line intercepts vertical axis at ln Nu= -1.9144 or Nu =0.1474

The general equation is of straight is lnNu = a lnRe + lnb

ln Nu = 0.4518 ln Re − 1.9144

From literature, the value of a is supposed to be between 0.023 to 0.043, but the graph aboove
shows 0.451. This little discrepancy may be attributed to the following errors:

i) The environment of Juja where the experiment was performed, was assumed to be an
870mm bar as Nairobi.
ii) The control of voltage and current supply was not accurate.
iii) Probably some parallax errors of reading could also cause such difference.
iv) Not enough data to analyse were obtained because the heater tripped earlier than
expected.

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT

 5. Conclusion

The objective of this experiment was to determine the convective heat transfer coefficients of a
single tube in forced convection and also heat transfer enhancement due to turbulence in tube
bundles. The results obtained for convective heat transfer coefficient has shown a strong
correlation to the empirical value. The relation between non dimensionless number, Re and Nu is
𝑁𝑢 = 0.1474 𝑅𝑒 0.0451 and has also shown not a big difference to the empirical value.

The close relationship to empirical observation validates experiment results. However, a little
discrepancy was observed, and the source errors attributed to that were discussed above.

As recomendation, JKUAT should repair some parts of the apparatus like voltage and a current
supply controller. It would be of advantage to get accurate results if the current supply was easy
monitored. The current control on the appararatus seems to be having a problem.

References:

1. M.Bahrami, Forced convection heat transfer pg 1-11

2. Lab manual
3. Convective heat transfer- engineering toolbox.
4. Donald R. Pitts, Ph.D.. - Theory and problem of heat transfer

Done by Ben Claude UWIHANGANYE, Reg. no: ENM311-2672/2016 JKUAT