The College of Engineering

Department of Petrochemicals
Module: Unit operation

Title: Convection

A Module Tutor: Mr. Birhad

Date: 7/11/2020

The Student: Safwan Kamal Askender

1
Objective:
To demonstrate the relationship between input power and surface temperature in
free convection.

Introduction:

Convection is the transfer of heat due to the bulk movement

of molecules within fluids (gases and liquids), including molten rock
(rheid). Convection includes sub-mechanisms of advection (directional
bulk-flow transfer of heat), and diffusion (non-directional transfer of
energy or mass particles along a concentration gradient).
Thermal image of a newly lit Ghillie kettle. The plume of hot air resulting
from the convection current is visible.
Convection cannot take place in most solids because neither bulk current
flows nor significant diffusion of matter can take place. Diffusion of heat
takes place in rigid solids, but that is called heat conduction. Convection,
additionally may take place in soft solids or mixtures where solid
particles can move past each other.
Thermal convection can be demonstrated by placing a heat source (e.g.
a Bunsen burner) at the side of a glass filled with a liquid, and observing
the changes in temperature in the glass caused by the warmer fluid
circulating into cooler areas.

2
Procedure:
1- Clamp the flat plate surface into the duct by using the two toggle
clamps.
2- Connect the heater power supply lead to the socket at the front
side of the display and control unit.
3- Connect the temperature probe lead to the socket at the front side
of the display and control unit. Then connect the temperature
probe to the socket at the base of flat plate surface.
4- Switch on the main power supply.
5- Set the heater power supplied to the flat plate surface by rotating
the power control knob clockwise.
6- After the device reached steady state condition, record the plate
temperature (Th) , air ambient temperature (TA).
Calculation & Result:
Input power W Plate temperature (𝑻𝑯 − 𝑻𝒂)℃
TH_ ℃ Note: Ta= 20℃
25 38.2 18.2
35 45 25
45 52.3 32.3
50 63 43

3
 (TH- Ta)= 38.2 – 20 = 18.2℃
(TH- Ta)= 45 – 20 = 25℃
(TH- Ta)= 52.3 – 20 = 32.3℃
(TH- Ta)= 63 – 20 = 43℃

Discussion and conclusion

About this experiment we know that how the power will affect the temperature
and how we measure the temperature of the plate and what is the instrument to
measure the temperature, when the power increase the temperature also increase
to know how temperature of plate we need thermostats to measure the
temperature but form our experiment the thermostats couldn’t work, so we
written the temperature at standard with help of power.
What is convection explain it through experiment?
Convection is one of three main types of heat transfer. ... The other two being
radiation and conduction. Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of
heated particles into an area of cooler particles. You can
experience convection when you light a match.

What are 4 examples of convection?

 Heating Water on the Stove. ...

 A Hot Air Balloon. ...
 Warm Weather and Bodies of Water. ...
 Dinner Preparation. ...
 The Earth's Convection

4
 60

50

40
W

30

20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
TH - Ta