HEAT TRANSFER IN FORCED CONVECTION

AIM

1. To determine the convective heat transfer co-efficient for a horizontal pipe through
which air flows under forced convection.
2. To find the theoretical heat transfer coefficient for the above condition and to
compare with the experimental value.
THEORY

Convection heat transfer takes place by the movement of fluid particles. If the motion of the
fluid particles is included by means of an external agency such as a pump or blower then the
process of heat transfer is called forced convection.
REYNOLDS’ NUMBER
𝜌𝑢𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
Re = =
µ 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

Re is used as a criterion to determine the change from laminar to turbulent flow for smaller
values of Re. viscous forces are dominant and the flow is laminar. For larger values of Re, the
inertia forces become dominant and flow tends to change to turbulent flow.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS
The apparatus consists of a blower to supply air. The air from the blower passes through a
flow passage, heater and then to the test section. Air flow is measured by an orifice meter
placed near the test section. A band heater placed around the tube heats the air and is
controlled by a dimmerstat. Temperature of the air at the inlet and outlet are measured using
thermocouples embedded in the walls at different distanced from the entrance.
SPECIFICATION
Inside diameter of the tube = 28mm
Orifice diameter = 20mm
Cd = coefficient of discharge of the orifice = 0.62
L = test section length = 400 mm

PROCEDURE
1) Start the blower after keeping the valve fully open.
2) Pun on the heater and adjust the voltage to a particular value and maintain it at as
constant.
3) Allow the system to stabilize and reach a steady state.
4) Note down all the temperature, heater wattage input and orifice pressure drop.
5) Repeat the experiment for different heat inputs and flow motion.

1
OBSERVATION TABLE

S.No Heater Input Air Orifice Tube Surface Temperature

. Temperature pressure °C
°C cm of
Inlet outlet H2O

V A W T1 T7 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
1
14 0.58 84.68 42.6 39.6 10.4 cm 36.7 35.4 34.2 33.8 32.4
6

SPECIMEN CALCULATIONS
𝑇2 + 𝑇3 + 𝑇4 + 𝑇5 + 𝑇6
Temperature of the surface of the pipe Ts =
5
36.7 + 35.4 + 34.2 + 33.8 + 32.4
= = 34.5 °C
5

𝑇1 + 𝑇7 42.6 + 39.6
Temperature of air T = = = 41.1 °C
2 2
Surface arear of the pipe A = 𝜋𝐷𝐿
= 𝜋 x 0.04 x 0.3 = 0.0376 m2
To find theoretical value of h
Properties of air at the bulk temperature 𝑇∞ = 4101 °C
𝜌 = 1.128 kg m-3, ‫ = ט‬16.96 x 1-6 m2 s-1
Pr = 0.699, K = 26.56 x 10-3 w m-1 k-1, Cp = 1.005 kJ kg-1 k -1
Manometer reading = 10.4 cm of water = 0.104 m of water
𝜌𝑤 𝑥 ℎ𝑤 1000 𝑥 0.104
Head of air in meters of air Hair = = = 92.19m
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 1.120

Discharge of air = a x cd x √2𝑔ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑟

𝜋
Q = x 0.02 x 0.62 x √2 𝑥 9.81 𝑥 92.19 = 0.00828 m3 s-1
4
𝑄 0.00828 𝜋 𝑥 𝑑𝑖 3.14 𝑥 0.00828
Velocity of flow = = = =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 2 4 2
v = 6.592 m s-1

2
 𝑢𝑑 6.594 𝑥 0.04
Re = = = 1.55 x 104
‫ט‬ 16.96 𝑥 10−6

Re > 2300 flow is turbulent

Nu = 0.023 Re0.8 Pr0.3
= 0.023 (1.55 x 104)0.8 (0.699)0.3 = 46.48
𝑁𝑢 𝑘 44.85 𝑥 26.56 𝑥 10−3
htheoretical = = = 30.86 w m-2 k-1
𝑑 0.04
EXPERIMENTAL VALUE OF h
Heat lost by air = heat transferred across test section surface
Heat lost by air q = ma Cpa (T1 –T7)

ma = mass of air = discharge of air x 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟

ma = 0.00828 x 1.128 = 0.00933 kg s-1

q = 0.00933 x 1.005 x 103 (42.6 - 39.6) = 28.1596 w

q = hexp x 0.0376 (41.4 – 34.5) = 113.47 w m-2 k-1
28.1596 = hexp. X 0.0376 X (41.1 – 34.5)
hexp. = 113.47 w/m2 k
Result: ___________________________________________________

Experimental setup for forced convection in laboratory