PROBLEM 1.

51
KNOWN: Initial temperature of water and tank volume. Power dissipation, emissivity, length and
diameter of submerged heaters. Expressions for convection coefficient associated with natural
convection in water and air.
FIND: (a) Time to raise temperature of water to prescribed value, (b) Heater temperature shortly after
activation and at conclusion of process, (c) Heater temperature if activated in air.
SCHEMATIC:

ASSUMPTIONS: (1) Negligible heat loss from tank to surroundings, (2) Water is well-mixed (at a
uniform, but time varying temperature) during heating, (3) Negligible changes in thermal energy
storage for heaters, (4) Constant properties, (5) Surroundings afforded by tank wall are large relative
to heaters.

ANALYSIS: (a) Application of conservation of energy to a closed system (the water) at an

instant, Equation (1.12c), with
E& st = dU t /dt, E& in = 3q1 , E& out = 0, and E& g = 0,
dU t dT
yields = 3q1 and ρ∀c =3q1
dt dt
t Tf
Hence, ∫0 dt = ( ρ∀c/3q1 ) ∫Ti dT

t=
( )
990 kg/m3 × 10gal 3.79 × 10−3 m3 / gal 4180J/kg ⋅ K
( 335 − 295) K = 4180 s <
3 × 500 W
(b) From Equation (1.3a), the heat rate by convection from each heater is

q1 = Aq1′′ = Ah ( Ts − T ) = (π DL ) 370 ( Ts − T )
4/3

3/ 4 3/ 4
⎛ q1 ⎞ ⎛ 500 W ⎞
Hence, Ts = T + ⎜ ⎟ =T+⎜ ⎟ = ( T + 24 ) K
⎝ 370 π DL ⎠ 2 4/3
⎝ 370 W/m ⋅ K × π × 0.025 m × 0.250 m ⎠
With water temperatures of Ti ≈ 295 K and Tf = 335 K shortly after the start of heating and at the end
of heating, respectively, Ts,i = 319 K and Ts,f = 359 K <
(c) From Equation (1.10), the heat rate in air is

⎣
4/3
(
q1 = π DL ⎡⎢ 0.70 ( Ts − T∞ ) + εσ Ts4 − Tsur
4 ⎤
⎥⎦ )
Substituting the prescribed values of q1, D, L, T∞ = Tsur and ε, an iterative solution yields
Ts = 830 K <
COMMENTS: In part (c) it is presumed that the heater can be operated at Ts = 830 K without
experiencing burnout. The much larger value of Ts for air is due to the smaller convection coefficient.
However, with qconv and qrad equal to 59 W and 441 W, respectively, a significant portion of the heat
dissipation is effected by radiation.