ME265: Thermal Engineering & Heat Transfer

Chapters
1. Energy Scenario

2. Thermodynamics 4.1 Introduction

4.2 Conduction
3. Mechanical Devices & Systems
4.3 Convection 4.3.1 Convection Fundamentals
4.3.2 External Forced Convection
4. Heat Transfer 4.3.3 Internal Forced Convection
4.3.4 Natural Convection
4.4 Radiation
4.5 Heat Exchanger

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 1

 4.3.3 IFC: Turbulent FC in pipes

▪ Most correlations for heat transfer coefficients in turbulent flow

are based on experimental studies.
▪ For fully developed turbulent flow in smooth tubes, Nusselt
number is calculated by the Dittus–Boelter equation

Re  10, 000 n = 0.4 heating 

Nu = 0.023Re Pr
0.8 n
 
0.7  Pr  160 n = 0.3 cooling 

▪ The fluid properties are evaluated at the bulk mean fluid

temperature Tb = (Ti + Te)/2.
▪ These are used when the difference between the fluid and the
surface temperature is not large.

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 2

 4.3.3 IFC: Turbulent FC in pipes

▪ When the difference between the fluid and the surface

temperature is large, the Seider and Tate (1936) equation is
used
0.14
0.8 1/3
𝜇𝑏 0.7 ≤ Pr ≤ 16,700
𝑁𝑢 = 0.027 𝑅𝑒 𝑃𝑟
𝜇𝑠 𝑅𝑒 ≥ 10,000

▪ The fluid properties are evaluated at the bulk mean fluid

temperature Tb = (Ti + Te)/2, except for 𝜇𝑠 which is evaluated at
surface temperature.

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 3

 4.3.3 IFC: Turbulent FC in pipes
▪ The Nusselt number relations are fairly simple, but they may give
errors as large as 25 percent.
▪ This error can be reduced considerably to less than 10 percent by
using more complex but accurate relations such as the second
Petukhov equation:

𝑓 Τ8 Re Pr 0.5 ≤ 𝑃𝑟 ≤ 2000
𝑁𝑢 = 0.5
1.07 + 12.7 (𝑓 Τ8) (Pr 2Τ3 − 1) 104 ≤ 𝑅𝑒 ≤ 5 × 106

f = ( 0.79ln Re− 1.64 )

−2
3000<Re<5 106

▪ The fluid properties are evaluated at the bulk mean fluid

temperature Tb = (Ti + Te)/2
▪ These are not very sensitive to thermal conditions at the tube
surface

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 4

 MECE 371: 3.3.5 Turbulent FC in Pipes
EP# 3.10
Water is to be heated from 15°C to 65°C as it flows through a 3-cm- internal
diameter 5-m-long tube. The tube is equipped with an electric resistance heater that
provides uniform heating throughout the surface of the tube. The outer surface of
the heater is well insulated, so that in steady operation all the heat generated in the
heater is transferred to the water in the tube. If the system is to provide hot water at
a rate of 10 L/min, determine the power rating of the resistance heater. Also,
estimate the inner surface temperature of the pipe at the exit.

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 5

 EP# 3.10
Assumptions
1. Steady flow conditions exist.
2. The surface heat flux is uniform.
3. The inner surfaces of the tube are smooth.

Properties
The properties of water at the bulk mean temperature of
Tb= (Ti + Te)/2 = (15 + 65)/2 = 40°C are (Table A-9).
 = 992.1 kg/m3 cp = 4179 J/kg°C
k = 0.631 W/m°C Pr = 4.32
 = 0.658 × 10 m /s
-6 2

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 6

 EP# 3.10

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 7

 EP# 3.10

Nov 09, 2020 (c) MA Islam, ME, BUET 8