Heat Transfer Lab Manual

EXPERIMENT # 4, 5, 6, 7: Free and Forced Heat Convection Unit

Related Theory:
Free Convection:
A heated surface dissipates heat primarily through a process called convection.
Heat is also dissipated by conduction and radiation, however these effects are not
considered in this experiment. Air in contact with the hot surface is heated by the
surface and rises due to a reduction in density. The heated air is replaced by
cooler air which is in turn heated by the surface and rises. This process is called free
convection.
The hotter the temperature of the surface, the greater the convective currents and
more heat (power) will be dissipated. If more power is supplied to a surface, the
temperature of the surface must rise to dissipate this power.

Forced Convection:
In free convection the heat transfer rate from the
movements of air generated by this heat. More
velocity is increased over the heated surface.
movement of air over the heated surface is called
heated surface experiencing forced convection
temperature than that of the same surface in free
input.
surface is limited by the small
heat is transferred if the air
This process of assisting the
Forced Convection. Therefore a
will have a lower surface
convection, for the same power

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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Extended Surfaces:
Heat transfer from an object can be improved by increasing the surface area in
contact with the air. In practice it may be difficult to increase the size of the body
to suit. In these circumstances the surface area in contact with the air may be
increased by adding fins or pins normal to the surface. These features are called
extended surfaces. A typical example is the use of fins on the cylinder and head
of an air cooled petrol engine. The effect of extended surfaces can be
demonstrated by comparing finned and pinned surfaces with a flat plate under the
same conditions of power input and airflow.

Temperature Distribution along an Extended Surface:

For a heat exchanger to be 100% efficient, the whole of the extended surface must
be at the same temperature as the backplane. In practice, this cannot occur because the flow

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Heat Transfer Lab Manual

of heat along the pins or fins by conduction causes a temperature gradient to occur. The
greater this gradient, the less efficient the heat exchanger will be.
The efficiency of the heat exchanger must not be confused with the effect of a
change in surface area e.g. comparing pinned and finned. For example, if the
pinned and finned heat exchangers supplied with the equipment are compared, the
pin is more efficient than the fin (slightly smaller temperature gradient) but the
finned exchanger has a significantly larger surface area than the pinned exchanger
and can dissipate more heat for the same surface temperature.

Apparatus Description:
The Heat Transfer Unit consists of a vertical rectangular duct supported by stand and a
control panel. A flat plate pinned or finned exchanger may be installed in the duct and
secured by a quick-release catch on each side. Each exchanger incorporates an electric
heating element with thermostatic protection against overheating.
The temperature at the base of each exchanger is monitored by a thermistor sensor with
connecting lead. The exchanger in use may be viewed through an acrylic window in the wall
of the duct. An upward flow of air may be generated in the duct with a variable speed fan
mounted at the top of rectangular duct. Air velocity in the duct, whether natural or forced, is

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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

indicated on a portable anemometer held in a bracket on the duct wall. The anemometer
sensor is inserted through the wall of the duct.
Temperature sensors are provided for the measurement of the in-going and out-going air
temperatures together with surface temperatures of exchanger pins and fins. A digital readout
indicates the temperature using a thermistor probe connected to a flexible lead. These
temperatures are determined by inserting the probe through access holes in the duct wall.
A control panel incorporates a variable power regulator with a digital readout to control and
indicate power supplied to the exchanger on test. The exchanger is connected to the panel via
the supply lead. A variable low voltage D.C. supply is provided for the fan via the supply
lead. Power is supplied to the equipment via a supply lead connected to control panel.

Experiment Capabilities:
1. Demonstration of the relationship between input and surface temperature in free
convection.
2. Demonstration of the relationship between input and surface temperature in forced
convection.
3. Demonstration of the use of extended surfaces to improve heat transfer from the surface.
4. To determine the temperature distribution along an extended surface.
5. Comparison of a horizontal and vertical flat plate in free convection.

General Operating Procedures:

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Heat Transfer Lab Manual

General Start-up Procedure:

1. Connect the mains input power supply plug to a nearest single-phase electrical supply of
240VAC/50Hz.
2. Turn the heater power control knob and fan speed control knob fully anticlockwise.

3. Connect the fan supply lead to the socket at the side of the control panel.

4. Connect the temperature probe lead to the socket beneath the control panel.

5. Clamp the flat plate heat exchanger into the duct using the two toggle clamps
and connect the heater power supply lead to the socket on the cover.
6. Connect the plate temperature (TH) connector to the socket on the heat
exchanger.
7. Place the meter into the bracket situated on the side of the duct.
8. Ensure that the sensor hole is aligned with the direction of the airflow when
inserting the probe through the wall of the duct.
9. Switch on the main power.
10. Check that the L.E.D. temperature meter and Volt/Ampere Meter are
illuminated. Check that the temperature meter indicates ambient temperature.
11. Increase the heater power in the exchanger by rotating the power control knob
clockwise. The power supplied to the exchanger should be shown in watts on
the meter.
12. Switch on the fan and increase the speed by rotating the fan speed control
knob clockwise.
13. Observe that the air velocity is indicated on the indicator.
14. Check that the plate temperature (TH) increases.
15. Set the heater power control and fan speed control knob to minimum.
16. Now you are ready for the following experiments.
General Shutdown Procedure:

1. Switch off the heater and turn the power control knob fully anti-clockwise. Set the
fan speed control knob to maximum to cool down the hot plate heat exchanger.

2. Turn off the main power supply after plate heat exchanger has cooled down to
room temperature.

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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Experiment # 4:
Objective:
To demonstrate the relationship between power input and surface temperature in
free convection.
Procedure:
1. Remove the fan assembly from the top of the duct.
2. Place the finned heat exchanger into the test duct.
3. Set the heater power control to 20 Watts (clockwise).
4. Allow sufficient time to achieve steady state conditions before noting the heated plate
temperature (tH) and ambient temperature (tA) into the table below.
5. Repeat this procedure at 40, 60 and 80 Watts.
6. Plot a graph of power against temperature (tH-tA).

Observations:

Input Plate Temp Ambient Temp tH – tA

Power (tH) (tA)
C
Watts C °C

Conclusion:

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Heat Transfer Lab Manual

Graph:

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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Experiment # 5:
Objective:
To demonstrate the relationship between power input and surface temperature in
forced convection.
Procedure:
1. Place the fan assembly on to the top of the duct.
2. Place the finned heat exchanger into the duct.
Set the heater power control to 50 Watts (clockwise).
3. Allow sufficient time to achieve steady state conditions before noting the heated plate
temperature (tH) and the ambient temperature (tA).
4. Set the fan speed control to give a reading of 0.5m/s on the thermal
anemometer, allow sufficient time to achieve steady state conditions.
5. Record heated plate temperature (tH) and ambient temperature (tA).
6. Repeat this procedure by setting the fan speed control to give 1.0m/s and
1.5m/s.
7. Plot a graph of air velocity against temperature. ( tH –tA)
Observations:
Power Input = ……… W

Air Velocity Plate Temp (tH) Ambient Temp tH – tA

m/s C (tA) C
°C

Conclusion:

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Heat Transfer Lab Manual

Graph:

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0.6

0.4
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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Experiment # 6
Objective:
To demonstrate the use of extended surface to improve heat transfer from the
surface.
Procedure:
1. Place the fan assembly on to the top of the duct.
2. Place the flat plate heat exchanger into the duct.
3. Set the heater power control to 75 Watts. Allow the temperature to rise to
800C, and then adjust the heater power control to 15 Watts until a steady
reading is obtained.
4. Set the fan speed control to give 1m/s using the thermal anemometer. Record
heated plate temperature (tH) and the ambient temperature (tA).
5. Repeat this procedure at 2 and 2.5m/s for the flat plate. Repeat the experiment
by replacing the flat plate with the finned plate and pinned plate.
6. Plot graphs of velocity against temperature (tH - tA) for each of the plates.
Note: Comment on the correlation between total surface area of the heat exchanger and the
temperature achieved.

Observations:
Power Input = ………W (Increase power input ant repeat experiment)

Velocity Plate Temp Ambient Temp tH - tA

(tH) (tA)
m/s C
C °C

Conclusion:

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Heat Transfer Lab Manual

Graph:

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0.6

0.4
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0.2

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 Exp#4,5,6,7: Free & Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Experiment # 7
Objective:
To determine the temperature distribution along an extend surface.
Procedure:
1. Measure from the back plate the distance of the three access holes on the
pinned and finned heat exchangers.
2. Place the fan assembly on to the top of duct.
3. Place the pinned heat exchanger into the duct.
4. Set the heater power control to 60 watts. Allow sufficient time to achieve
steady state conditions before noting the heated plate temperature (tH) and the
ambient temperature (tA).
5. Insert the temperature probe into the duct through the hole nearest the heated
plate ensuring that the tip of the probe is in contact with the pin. A small
amount of heat conducting compound on the tip will ensure a good thermal
contact. Note this temperature (t1).
6. Record the pin temperatures (t2 and t3) using the remaining two holes.
Repeat this procedure at 1.0m/s and 2m/s.
7. Remove the pinned heat exchanger and replace with the finned heat
exchanger. Repeat complete experiment.
8. Plot graphs of surface temperature against distance from back plate for the
two heat exchangers at various air velocities.
Observations:
Power input = ____ Watts
Distance of nearest hole = 21 mm
Distance of middle hole = 48 mm
Distance of farthest hole = 48 mm

Air Temperature, (°C)

Velocity t1 t2 t3 tA
(m/s) Pinned Finned Pinned Finned Pinned Finned Pinned Finned

0
1
2

Conclusion:

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 Heat Transfer Lab Manual

Graph:

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0.6

0.4
Axis Title:

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
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