JJEAT TRANSFER IN NATURAL CONVECTION

OBJECTIVE:
1,
Study of convection heat transfer in natural c~nvect,ion conditions.

z.
To find out the heat transfer co:-efficient of vertical cyHnder in natural convection.

INTRODUCTION:
3,
Convection is defined as process of heat transfer by combined action of heat
c0nduction and mixing motion. Convection heat transfer is further classified as Natural

convection and Forced Convection.

If the mixing motion takes place due to de~ity difference caused by temperature
gradient, then the. process of heat tran;~er is kno~ as •heat transfei by .Natural or Free
Convection. If the mixing motion is induced by some external means such as a pump or
blower then the process is known as heat transfer by Forced Convection.

4. THEORY:
Natural convection phenomenon is du6 to the temp. Difference between the surface
'!lid the fluid and is not created by any external agency. The Setup is designed and fabricated
to study the natuntl convection phenomenon from a vertical cylinder in tenns of average heat
,

.transfer coefficient.
The heat transfer coefficient is given by.

1
s. DESCRIPTION:

The apparatus consists of a brass tube fitted in a rectangular duct in a vertical fashion:
The duct is open at the top and bottom and forms an enclosure and· serves the purpose of
~disturbed surrounding. One side of it is made up of glass/Acrylic for visualization. A
heating element is kept in the vertical tube, which heats the tube surface. The heat is lost
[rorn the tube to the surrounding air by natural conyection. Digital Temperature Indicator
measures the temperature at the different points witp. the help of seven temperature sensors.
'
The heat input to the heater is measured by Digital Ammeter and Digital voltmeter and can be

varied by a climmerstat.
I

Tl 0

Tc 0

500 T=
0

TL 0 oT8
T~ 0

TE 0

Coppe ~
T~ -tube 0

'
L-- '

NATURAL CONVECTION

6. UTILITIES REQUIRED:

Electricity Supply-: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, 2 Amg..

Table for set-up support (optional)
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
7,

Starring Procedure:
1. Clean the apparatus and make·i~ free from Dust, first.
2. Ensure that all On/Off Switches given ·on the Panel ru-e at OFF position.
3, Ensure that Variac Knob is at ZERO position, given on the panel.
4. Now switch on the Main Power Supply (220 V AC, 50 Hz).
5. Switch on the Panel with the help of Mains On/Off Switch given on.the Panel.
6. Fix the Power Input to the Heater with the help of Variac, Voltmeter and Ammeter
provided.
7. After 30 Minutes record the temperature of Test Section at various points in each 5
Minutes interval.
8. If Temperatures readings are same for three times, assume that steady state is

achieved.
9. Record ~e final temperatures. ·

Closing Procedure:
1. When experiment is over, Switch off heater first.
2. Adjust Variac at Zero.
'
3. Switch off the Panel with the help of Mains On/Off Switch given on the Panel.
4. Switch off Power Supply to Panel.

8. SPECIFICATION:

== 38mm.
Dia of the tube
== 500mm.
Length of the tube
- . 700x300x700 mm.
Size of duct
== RTD PT-100 type.
Temperature Sensors
== 8Nos.
No. of RTD Temperature Sensors
d 0 to 500 V.
Digital Voltmeter
== 0 to 2.0 Amps.
Digital Ammeter
== 2 Amps/220 V.
Dimmerstat '

Al
Temperature Indicator Digital Temperature Indicator Oto
200°C with multi channel switch.

9, FORMULAE:

Heat Transfer Co-efficient

1.
h- q · W 2
- A(T - T ) att / m oc
s •

2. Heat In}?ut .
q = V*I Watt

3. Heat transfer Area ·

A= ndL m2
4. Mean Surface Temperature
T = T1 +T2 +T3 +T4 +Ts +T6 +T1 oc
s 7

10. , OBSERVATION & CALCULATiONS:

Outer diameter of Cylinder, d 38mm.

Length of Cylinder, L 500mm.

2
Area of heat transfer, A 0.5969 m
Ts T7 ' T8
RunNo. V I I
I\ amb'tent
II
·~ I oc

t -t
I
!_J
1-~•t
j I
r
I
1--- -1 -
i
I

- --
-+.
1
1 I ,
f-- - - i·-. - - 1_- .-
_ __.JI L - I l -- I _,___\_. _\_- -

CALCULATION:

Amount of heat transferred, Q ------- Watt.

0
Average surface temp. Ts = C
2
Heat transfer coefficient, h = Watt/ m °C

4
 11• pRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use the stabilize A.C.

· Single Phase supply only. .
2· Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches
given on the panel are at OFF position.
3. Voltage to heater starts and increases siowly.
4. Keep all the assembly undisturbed.
5. Never run the apparatus if pov.:er supply is less than 180 V and above than 240 V.
6· . Operate selector switch of temperature m ; 1y.
. d'1cator gent
7. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.
There is a possibility of getting abrupt result if the supply voltage is fluctuating or if
the satisfactory steady state co~dition is not reached;

12. TROUBLESHOOTING:

· 1. If electric panel is not showing the input on the mains light. Check the fuse and also
check the main supply.
2. If D.T.I displays "l" on the screen check the computer socket ifloose tight it.
3. If temperature of any sensor is not displays in D.T.I check the connection and rectify

that.
4. Voltmeter showing the voltage given to heater but ampere meter does not. Tight the

heater socket & switch if ok it-means heater burned.

13. REFERENCES:
1. Holman, J.P., "Heat Transfer", 8th ed.,'pp. 283-319, McGraw Hill, NY, 1976.
51
2. Kern, D.Q., "Process Heat Transfer", 1 ed., pp. 25-27, McGraw Hill, NY, 1Q65.
3. Perry, R.H., Green, D.(editors), "Perry's Chemical Engineers' H~ndbook", Ii" ed.,

pp. 10/14-19, McGraw Hill, NY,.1985.

4. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., Harriott, P., "Unit Operations of Chemical

Engineering", 4th ed., pp. 254,- McGraw mn; NY, 1985.

5. ·Coulson, /M., Richardson, J.F., •Coulson & Ric~ardson's Chemical EnginOering
Vol. -1", 5th ed., pp. 364-366,_Asian Books ltd., ND, 1996.