Exercise B

Fan Air Prehe Volta RH1 T1 RH2 T2 RH3 T3 RH4 T4

(%) flow at ge (%) (C) (%) (C) (%) (C) (%) (C)
(m/s) (%) (V)

60 0.69 30 240.5 35.2 23.2 26.8 26.9 25.9 26 27.6 26

60 0.73 40 240 21.0 24.5 14.8 29.0 15.6 28.3 16.0 28.2

60 0.73 50 240 20.0 24.9 13.3 30.4 14.8 29.6 14.2 29.5

60 0.73 60 240 20.5 25.1 12.4 31.5 13.4 30.6 13.6 30.5
Table #: Collected experimental data

Fan (%) Air flow Preheat Voltage Mass Flow Heat Transfer Electric Power
(m/s) (%) (V) Rate (Kg/s) Into The Air Input To Heater
(kJ/s) (W)
0.032624113 0.091804255 284.8194129
60 0.69 30 240.5
0.033953488 0.126256047 305.4545455
60 0.73 40 240
0.036004932 0.166450801 327.2727273
60 0.73 50 240
0.035393939 0.192082909 349.0909091
60 0.73 60 240
Table #: Computed experimental data
Sample calculations and formulas:

Mass flow rate:

F∗A
ṁ=
ν

0.69∗0.04 Kg
ṁ= =0.0326 3
0.846 m

Heat transfer to the air:

Δ Q̇=ṁ∗C pa (T 4 −T 1)

KJ
Δ Q̇=0.0326∗1.0035 ( 26−23.2 )=0.0915
s

Electric power:
%∗V 2 ( 1−PH % )∗V 2
P=PH +
R preheat Rreheater

0.3∗240.52 ( 1−0.3 )∗240.52

P= + =284.81 W
132 264
 Heat Transfer vs Change in Temperature
6

Change in Temperature [C] 3

0
0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
Heat Transfer [KJ/s]

Graph: Heat Transfer vs Change in Temperature

Electrical Power vs Change in Temperature

6

Change in Temperature [C] 3

0
280 290 300 310 320 330 340 350 360
Electrical Power [W]

Graph: Electrical Power vs Change in Temperature

 1) The heat transfer graph should be a straight line, why? The electrical input of the heater
may not be, comment.

Δ Q̇=ṁ∗C pa (T 4 −T 1)

The previous equation was used to establish the heat transfer of the system. We can see
here that the mass flow rate for each individual experiment was constant in addition to
the specific heat constant. The equation thus takes the form of a typical linear curve with
slope equal to the product of the mass flow rate and the specific heat constant. Thus,
explaining why the graph should be linear but also obtained experimentally in the
following graph #. For the electrical input, it is largely in part governed by the square of
the voltage of the system. In this situation we held the value constant and as such we
expect was again a linear relationship between the electrical power and the change in
temperature. This can also be observed by our experimental results in graph #.

2) Does the mass flow rate affect the heat transferred to the air? Does varying the power
supplied to the heater have an effect?

Once more, by observing the heat transfer equation we can note that increasing the mass
flow rate will increase the magnitude of the rate of heat transfer as well. Physically, the
more exited particles are being removed from the system more quickly and as such, we
can expect more heat to be removed within the same time frame if the system were to be
compared to one with a lower flow rate.

Evaluating the effects of the power should be evaluated based on the amount (KJ) of heat
loss and the rate of heat lost (KJ/s). Essentially, the rate will not be affected by the
increase of power because it is based on the interfacing mediums where the heat
exchange occurs. However it is important to distinguish between the total amount of heat
loss in the system and varying the power will have an impact on this quantity. The
explanation is that the power is the product of the voltage and current of the system
(P=V*I), as such, when the voltage is increased, the current will decrease due to the
inverse proportionality (assuming constant power). It is known that the amount of heat
lost is based on the current of the system. It is for that reason that we seek higher voltages
with lower current to minimize the amount of heat loss. Thus in the situation that the
voltage remains constant and the current is increased to obtain a desired power level, the
total amount of heat loss in the system will be increase.
Sources of error

In general, the experiments did require manipulations or measurements outside from those
required by the assistant. As such, it is assumed that any error can be in the initializing of the
hardware used for the experiments. However, it is also possible that the system outputs faulty
data due to the general wear of the components. It is possible also that the sensors and electronic
readouts are no longer properly calibrated and as a result, are displaying inconsistent and
incoherent data. That being said, such issues were not displayed in the laboratory session and the
resulting curves accurately confirm the corresponding theories .