Table of Contents

1 Abstract ................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Observations and Calculations ................................................................................................ 3

2.1 Free Convection .............................................................................................................. 3

2.2 Forced Convection .......................................................................................................... 4

2.3 Forced convection with varying air speed ...................................................................... 4

3 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................... 6

4 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 7

5 References ............................................................................................................................... 7
 List of Figures
Figure 1: Variation of temperature difference with input power for free and forced convection .. 5
Figure 2: Variation of temperature difference with air velocity in forced convection at 50W ...... 6

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 List of Tables
Table 1: Observation table for free convection............................................................................... 3
Table 2: Observation table for forced convection at 0.5 m/s .......................................................... 4
Table 3: Observation table for forced convection with varying speed for constant input power of
50 W ................................................................................................................................................ 4

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1 Abstract
In this experiment, our goal was to examine heat transfer in free and forced convection heat
flux. The experiment was divided into three parts: (i) free convection, (ii) forced convection with
a constant air speed of 0.5 m/s, and (iii) forced convection with varying speeds while keeping the
heater power constant at 50 W.
When we increased the heater power, the temperature difference TH – TA increased in both free
and forced convection, but the increase was more noticeable in forced convection. Additionally,
the heat transfer coefficient increased in free convection but decreased in forced convection as the
heater power increased. Comparing free and forced convection with the same heater power, we
found that the temperature difference TH – TA was greater in free convection.
In the third part of the experiment, we explored forced convection with varying speeds while
maintaining a constant heater power of 50 W. As the air velocity increased, the temperature
difference TH – TA decreased, but the heat transfer coefficient increased.
Several errors were encountered during the experiment, including human errors and systematic
errors. These errors could have affected the accuracy of our results and conclusions.

2 Observations and Calculations

2.1 Free Convection

Area= A = 140.3 cm2 = 0.01403 m2

Table 1: Observation table for free convection

Heat
Plate Ambient
transfer
Input Power Temperature Temperature TH – TA
Coefficient,
(W) (TH) (TA) (0C)
h
(0C) (0C)
W/m2. K
13 51.2 18 33.2 27.91
20 53.1 19 34.1 41.80
25.6 56..6 19 37.6 48.53
30.5 61.3 19 42.3 51.39

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2.2 Forced Convection
Area= A = 140.3 cm2 = 0.01403 m2
Table 2: Observation table for forced convection at 0.5 m/s

Heat
Plate Ambient
transfer
Input Power Temperature Temperature TH – TA
Coefficient,
(W) (TH) (TA) (0C)
h
(0C) (0C)
W/m2. K
13 25.4 16 9.4 98.57
20 34.8 16 18.8 75.83
25.6 44.3 18 26.3 69.38
30.5 52.1 16 36.1 60.22
2.3 Forced convection with varying air speed
Area= A = 140.3 cm2 = 0.01403 m2
Table 3: Observation table for forced convection with varying speed for constant input power of 50 W

Plate Ambient
Heat transfer
Air Velocity Temperature Temperature TH – TA
Coefficient, h
m/s (TH) (TA) (0C)
W/m2. K
(0C) (0C)
4.1 67.9 19 48.9 72.88
4.82 66.9 19 47.9 74.40
5.1 65.3 19 46.3 76.97
5.85 61.1 19 42.1 84.65

Sample Calculations:
Each set of experiment follow the same procedure for calculating the heat transfer coefficient.
For example, for first trial of free convection, we have data.

Plate Temperature Ambient

Input Power TH – TA
(TH) Temperature (TA)
Q (W) (0C)
(0C) (0C)
13 51.2 18 33.2

Q = h A. (TH – TA)
h = Q/ [A. (TH – TA)]

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Putting all values, we get,

h = Q/ [A. (TH – TA)] = 13/(0.01403*33.2)

h = 27.91 W/m2. K
Variation of temperature difference with input power for free and forced convection and variation
of temperature difference with air velocity in forced convection at 50W are shown below.

Temperature Difference VS Power

45

40

35

30
TH – TA (0C)

25

20

15

10

0
10 15 20 25 30 35
Power (W)

Forced Convection Free Convection

Figure 1: Variation of temperature difference with input power for free and forced convection

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 Air Velocity VS Temperature Difference
6

5.5

5
Air velocity (m/s)

4.5

3.5

3
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
TH – TA (0C)

Figure 2: Variation of temperature difference with air velocity in forced convection at 50W

3 Results and Discussion

The The experiment was completed successfully, and we obtained the desired data and results.
It consisted of three main parts: free convection, forced convection at a constant air speed of 0.5
m/s, and forced convection at varying speeds with a constant heater power of 50 W.
We observed that as we increased the heater power, the temperature difference TH – TA increased
for both free and forced convection, with a larger increase seen in forced convection. Similarly,
the heat transfer coefficient increased in free convection but decreased in forced convection as the
heater power increased. When comparing free and forced convection at the same heater power, we
noticed that the temperature difference TH – TA was greater in free convection.
In the third part of the experiment, where we varied the air velocity while keeping the heater power
constant at 50 W, we found that increasing the air velocity led to a decrease in the temperature
difference TH – TA and an increase in the heat transfer coefficient. This implies that increasing
air velocity can enhance heat transfer. The graphs depicting these relationships showed almost
linear trends with slight deviations from a straight line.
Several errors were identified during the experiment:
The system required a considerable amount of time to reach steady state, affecting the results.
Temperature values fluctuated during the experiment.

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Heat transfer calculations assumed one-dimensional transfer, while it actually occurs in three
dimensions.
Possible human errors could have occurred while recording data.
Heat losses to the environment due to imperfect insulation could have influenced results.
Systematic, random, and unknown errors might have also impacted the experiment.

4 Conclusion
Following points can be concluded from the experiment.

• By increasing the heater power, the temperature difference TH – TA also increased for both
free convection and forced convection.
• By increasing the heater power, the heat transfer coefficient in free convection also
increased but decreased in case of forced convection.
• By increasing the air velocity, the temperature difference TH – TA decreased, and the heat
transfer coefficient increased.
• Various errors were involved in the experiment such as human error, systematic errors, and
random errors.
• The results of the experiment show that the objectives of the experiment had been
successfully achieved.

5 References

[1] "ME-403L Heat Transfer Lab Manual," PIEAS, Nilore, Islamabad, 2021.

[2] Y. A. Çengel and A. J. Ghajar, Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals & Applications, Fifth
Edition, New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.

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