RESULT ANALYSIS

Flat surface area, A s = 0.01m2

Finned surfaced area, A finned plate = 0.0154m2

Values for heat transfer coefficient, h for flat surface:

Heater power input, Q̇ = 20W Heater power input, Q̇ = 30W
39.9202 55.3506
43.7637 57.1429
47.2813 59.7609

Values for heat transfer coefficient, h for finned surface:

Heater power input, Q̇ = 20W Heater power input, Q̇ = 30W
47.5717 68.5934
68.3527 84.3313
85.4409 93.6563

Flat surface temperature difference (T s−T ∞ ) for Q̇ = 20W

Air velocity, V (m/s) Temperature difference, T (ºC)

2 50.1
3 45.7
4 42.3

Flat surface temperature difference (T s−T ∞ ) for Q̇ = 30W

Air velocity, V (m/s) Temperature difference, T (ºC)

2 54.2
3 52.5
4 50.2

Finned surface temperature difference (T s−T ∞ ) for Q̇ = 20W

Air velocity, V (m/s) Temperature difference, T (ºC)

2 27.3
3 19
4 15.2
Finned surface temperature difference (T s−T ∞ ) for Q̇ = 30W

Air velocity, V (m/s) Temperature difference, T (ºC)

2 28.4
3 23.1
4 20.8

Graph of air velocity agaisnt temperature difference

60

50
temperature difference,ºC

40

30

20

10

0
2 3 4
air velocity, ms-1

Q=20W Q=30W

Graph of air velocity against temperature difference for flat surface:

 Graph of air velocity agaisnt temperature difference
30

25
temperature difference,ºC

20

15

10

0
2 3 4
air velocity, ms-1

Q=20W Q=30W
Graph of air velocity against temperature difference for finned surfaced
SAMPLE CALCULATION

A finned=9× ( 0.1 ×0.06 ) + ( 0.1 × 0.1 )

= 0.0154m2

A flate=0.1 × 0.1

= 0.01m2

Q̇
h=
A s ( T s−T ∞ )

20
¿
0.01 ( 75.1−25.0 )
¿ 39.9202
DISCUSSION

According to the theory of convection where it is stated that heat transfer can be
improve by increasing the surface area. By referring to the formula of convection
˙ =h A˙ ( T s−T ∞ ). The higher the surface area, the higher the convection heat transfer rate.
Qconv
˙ dT
This also can be proved with furious law, where Q ∝ A .
dX
Two different types of surfaces are tested in this experiment, which is flat surface and
finned surfaced. Based on the results we collected, it is shown that finned surface has a higher
cooling rate as compared to flat surface. This is due to the fact that a finned surface plate has
a higher surface area compared to flat surface.
A graph of air velocity versus temperature difference is plotted, and the results are
quite similar. Where as the ai velocity increase, the temperature difference decrease.
Some errors should be taken into consideration when conducting this experiment.
Such error for example human error where there is no waiting for the temperature to stayed at
one point. This may cause varies in temperature difference as the temperature might changed
if waited for a longer period of time. Besides, instrumental error is also an error that should
be consider. Where the heater power input and air velocity are very hard to setup or control.
 CONCLUSION

To conclude, surface area is one of the major variable in affecting the convection het
transfer rate. It can be said the, the higher the surface area, the higher the convection heat
transfer will be. In this particular experiment, it is observed that finned surface has a higher
cooling rate as compare to flat surface. This is due to the significant difference in surface
area. The objective and theory in this experiment are achieved, and all errors can be
overcome by doing some improvement neither human nor machine.
 APPARATUS

Fan speed regulator and heat watt regulator

Air duct

Flat surface plate specimen Finned surface plate specimen