Film Coefficients

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 Film Coefficients

 It is a measure of the heat flow for unit surface and

unit temperature difference.
 It indicates the rate or speed with which fluids
having a variety of physical properties and under
varying degrees of agitation transfer heat.
 Other factors influencing the film coefficient are
 Size of the pipe
 Fluid placed inside or outside

Because of so many variables , its difficult to have a rational

derivation for film calculation.
 Film Coefficient

Fluid- incompressible
Flow- turbulent at constant mass rates
Geometry – pipe of uniform diameter
Heat transfer rate for forced convection will depend on
Velocity(u), density(ρ),specific heat(c), viscosity(μ)
thermal conductivity(k), inside dia of pipe(D)
u , μ, ρ, D – affect the thickness of fluid film at the pipe
wall through which heat must first be conducted
and also the extent of fluid mixing
k,c – reflects the variation of average fluid temp as a result
of unit heat absorption.
Buckingham’s π Theorem
No. of variables = 7, dimensional parameters = 4
No. of π groups = 7-4 =3
Recurring variables:
Film Coefficient
Ques. Estimate average value of convective film
coefficient on inside surface of a tube of 50mm
internal diameter meant for heating water. Mass flow
rate of water is 25000 kg/hr which enters at a
temperature of 20 oC . Calculate the heat transferred
per unit length of tube if wall temperature is 10 oC
above the bulk temperature of fluid.
Given: Properties of water- density = 992.2kg/m3,
thermal conductivity = 54.5 x 10-2 kcal/hr m oC,
kinematic viscosity = 0.659 x 10-6 m2/s.