TRANSPORT PHENOMENA CHE411A

CONVECTION

- Mechanism of heat transfer through a fluid in the presence of bulk fluid motion. It is classified depending on
how the fluid motion is initiated either as:
a. Natural (free) Convection -When the flow of gas or liquid comes from differences in density and
temperature, it is called free convection.
b. Forced Convection -When the flow of gas or liquid is circulated by pumps or fans it is called forced
convection.
- Convection depends on speed. Motion increases heat transfer by convection in all fluids.
- Convection depends on surface area. If the surface contacting the fluid is increased, the rate of heat
transfer also increases. Almost all devices made for convection have fins for this purpose.

Convection Equation: q = h A (Ts -T∞)

Important parameters to be considered when choosing the proper correlation to be used in the determination of
heat transfer coefficient:

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a. Geometry under consideration. (over a flat plate, over a cylinder, through a tube, through a channel)

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b. Classification of heat transfer process (forced convection, free convection, external flow, internal flow, entrance

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region, fully developed region, boiling, condensation, micro-gravity)
c. Type of heat transfer coefficient (local nusselt number or average nusselt number)

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FORCED CONVECTION
A forced convection flow field happens when the fluid is forced to flow by pressure differences, a pump, a
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fan, and so on.

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* Forced convection coefficient can be derived from Nusselt number which is a function of Reynolds number and
Prandtl number. Different correlations are used depending on specific conditions/ limitations from which these
correlations were derived.
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Since forced convection is based on reynolds number, it is therefore important to establish knowledge
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regarding fluid flow.

FLUID FLOW/ FLUID DYNAMICS

Classification of Fluid Flow

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o Viscous- inviscid
o Internal flow- External flow
o Open- closed channel
o Compressible- Incompressible
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o Laminar- Turbulent
o Natural- Forced
o Steady- Unsteady
o One-,two-,three-dimensional

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 TRANSPORT PHENOMENA CHE411A
Types of Fluid Flow

o Uniform flow - occurs when the convective acceleration is zero. The velocity vector is identical at every
point in the flow field.
o Non-uniform flow – is space dependent. A frictionless fluid would flow nonuniformly in a pipe elbow.
o Laminar flow – fluid particles move very smoothly parallel to each other.
o Turbulent flow – characterized by random

Reynolds Number

- Reynolds number depends upon different factors such as pipe roughness, vibrations, upstream fluctuations
and disturbances (valves, elbows, etc.)
- It can be calculated as

Re= Inertial forces/ Viscous Forces

- The criteria upon which this dimensionless number is analyzed, whether as laminar, transition or turbulent,

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depends on the geometry where the fluid flows.
o For flow inside pipes or tubes, the critical Reynolds number

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ReD < 2100  laminar
𝐷𝑣𝜌
𝑅𝑒𝐷 = 2300 ≤ ReD ≤ 4000  transitional

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𝜇

rs e ReD > 4000  turbulent

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Where D = characteristic length of the geometry v = mean flow velocity
μ = viscosity ρ = density
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** Characteristic Length is based on the HYDRAULIC DIAMETER, Dh

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4(𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎) 4𝐴𝑐

𝐷ℎ = =
𝑤𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃
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o For flow over flat plates

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ReL < 5x 105  laminar

Re > 5x 105  turbulent

Nusselt Number
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- For flow inside or outside tubes : NuD = hD/k

- For flow over flat plates : NuL= hL/k

Prandtl Number

- Prandtl number is based on the boundary layer theory wherein for

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 TRANSPORT PHENOMENA CHE411A
o Pr<<1 heat diffuses very quickly in liquid metals
o Pr>>1 heat diffuses very slowly in oils relative to momentum
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚 𝑣 𝐶𝑝 𝜇
𝑃𝑟 = = =
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝛼 𝑘

* Thermal Boundary Layer

- Thermal boundary layer refers to the flow region over the surface in which the temperature varies in the
direction normal to the surface.
- Also, velocity profile influences the temperature profile.

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When a fluid at one temperature flows along a surface which is at another temperature, a thermal boundary layer
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develops. The thermal boundary layer thickness is defined as the distance required for the temperature T to reach
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99% of its free-stream value T∞. And assuming,

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1. steady, incompressible flow

2. Constant fluid properties evaluated at film temperature: Tf = ( Ts +T∞ ) / 2
3. Negligible body forces, viscous heating, and conduction in the flow direction
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Blasius’ numerical solution with the corresponding values of u and v and that the boundary layer edge, u/Vx = 0.99,
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corresponds to η ≈ 5.0;
δ 5.0 5.0
≈ 𝑣 ≈
𝑥 √ ∞ √𝑅𝑒𝑥
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𝑣𝑥
Where δ = thickness of the thermal boundary layer
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* The transition from laminar to turbulent flow commonly occurs at 300, 000< Re < 600,000

Heat Transfer Coefficient Correlations

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* The following correlations were taken from different reference books. Take note that each correlation can only be
used if all limitations on its use are met.

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 TRANSPORT PHENOMENA CHE411A

Heat transfer correlations for Laminar flow

• Heat transfer parallel over flat plates , (local heat transfer coefficient)

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Nu = hLL = 0.332 Re1/2 Pr 1/3

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k ( 1 – ( xo /x) ¾) 1/3

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Where xo = distance where heating starts

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• When plate is heated over its entire length of flat plates, xo = 0 (local heat transfer coefficient)

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Nu = 0.332 Re1/2 Pr 1/3
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• When average value of Nu over entire length of flat plates, (average heat transfer coefficient)
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Nu = 0.664 Re1/2 Pr 1/3
(for constant heat flux, the coefficient 0.332 becomes 0.453, effecting an increase of the coefficient over an
entire length)
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• For laminar flow on an isothermal flat plate with a wide range of Prandtl numbers, (local heat transfer
coefficient)
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Note: average heat transfer coefficient is twice the local heat transfer coefficient
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Heat transfer correlations for Turbulent flow

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• For flow over flat plate, average heat transfer coefficient. Transition of flow from laminar to turbulent is not
considered
hL
Nu = = 0.037 Re 0L.8 Pr1/ 3 0.6  Pr  60
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k
5 105  Re L  107
(For flow in tubes, refer to Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook)

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 TRANSPORT PHENOMENA CHE411A
PROBLEMS

1. A crank case of an automobile is approximately 0.6 m long, 0.2 m wide and 0.1 m deep. Assuming that the
surface temperature of the crank case is 350K, estimate the rate of heat flow from the crank case to
atmospheric air at 276K at a road speed of 30m/s. Assume that the vibration of the engine and the chassis
induce the transition from laminar to turbulent over the entire surface. Neglect radiation and assume front
and rear surface have the same average convection coefficient as for the bottom and sides.
2. Air at a pressure of 101.3 kPa and a temperature of 288.8K is flowing over a thin, smooth flat plate at 3.05
m/s. The plate length in the direction of flow is 0.305m and is at 333.2K. Calculate the heat-transfer
coefficient assuming laminar flow.
3. Cold air at -28.9°C and 1 atm is recirculated at a velocity of 0.61m/s over the exposed top flat surface of a
piece of frozen meat. The sides and bottom of this rectangular slab of meat are insulated and the top
surface is 254mm by 254mm square. If the surface of the meat is at -6.7°C, predict the average heat
transfer coefficient to the surface.
4. Castor oil at 38OC flows over a wide, 6 m long, heated plate at 0.06 m/s. For a surface temperature of

m
93OC, determine a) the hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness at the end of the plate b) the local heat

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transfer coefficient h, at the end of the plate c) the total heat rate from the surface per unit width. Assume

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the thermal diffusivity to be 7.22 x 10-8 m2/s and the thermal conductivity to be 0.213 w/m.K at the film

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temperature.

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5. Atmospheric air at 25OC flows over both the surface of a flat plate with a velocity of 5 m/s. the flat plate is
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maintained at a uniform temperature of 75OC. Determine (a) the velocity boundary layer thickness and the
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heat flux at the trailing edge (b)the total heat transfer from the plate to air
6. Determine the heat transfer coefficient for the water in a tube of 16mm in diameter at a velocity of 3m/s.
The temperature of the tube is 24°C, and the water enters and leaves at 80°C and 36°C respectively.
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7. For heating water from 20°C to 60°C, an electrically heated tube in a constant heat flux of 10kW/m 2 is
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proposed. The mass flow rate is to be such that ReD= 2000, the tube inside diameter is 25mm. The flow is
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fully developed. Determine the length of the tube.

8. Water at 30°C with a mass flow rate of 2kg/s enters a 2.3 mm ID tube where wall is maintained at a uniform
temperature of 90°C, calculate the length of the tube required to heat water to 70°C.
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9. In a heat exchanger, water flows through a long copper tube (ID=2.2cm) with an average velocity of 2.13
m/s. The water is heated by steam condensing at 150°C on the outside of the tube. Water enters at 15°C
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and leaves at 60°C. What is the heat transfer coefficient for the water?
10. Air at 1.0 atmospheric pressure and 77OC enters a 5.0 mm ID tube with a bulk average velocity of 2.5 m/s.
The velocity profile is developed and the thermal profile is “developing”. The tube length is 1.0 m, and a
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constant heat flux is imposed by the tube surface on the air over the entire length. An exit air bulk average
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temperature, Tb = 127OC, is required. Determine (a) The exit h value, hL (b) The uniform heat flux (c)The
exit tube surface temperature
11. Nitrogen gas at atmospheric pressure and a bulk inlet temperature of 27°C in a 2.5 cm ID tube having a
constant surface temperature of 100°C. The bulk average velocity is 1.2 m/s and the tube is 1.5 m long.
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Determine the net heat transfer rate to the Nitrogen.

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