Chapter 3

Forced convection – Internal flow

Flow through cylinders
(Formulae & Problems)
Forced convection
Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow through a cylinder (Internal flow)

Retardation of fluid flow near

the walls causes Boundary
layer development
(Shown by dotted line in the fig)

 Thickness of the BL is limited to radius of the pipe since the flow is within a
confined passage
BL from the pipe walls meet at the centre of the pipe and the entire flow region
acquires the same pattern of the flow
Once the BL thickness becomes equal to the radius of the pipe there will be no
further changes in the velocity distribution. This invariant velocity profile
distribution is called fully developed velocity profile i.e Poiseulle flow
FORCED CONVECTION
Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow through cylinder (Internal flow)
Tmo  Tmi
i) Mean film temperature, T f 
2
Tmo – Fluid inlet temperature Tmi – Fluid outlet temperature

All the thermo physical properties of the fluid (like density, viscosity, specific
heat, thermal conductivity) should taken corresponding to mean film
temperature
UD
ii) Reynolds number, Re 

Criteria for flow type

Re < 2300 - Laminar flow

Re > 2300 - Turbulent flow
FORCED CONVECTION
Laminar Flow: (HMT Data book, Pg no: 123)

Nu = 3.66

Turbulent Flow: (HMT Data book, Pg no: 125)

i) For 0.6 < Pr < 160, Re > 10,000 and ( L / D) > 60

Nu = 0.023 (Re)0.8 (Pr)n
n = 0.4 – Heating process
n = 0.3 – Cooling process

ii) For 10 < ( L / D) < 400 and Re < 10,000

Nu = 0.036 (Re)0.8 (Pr)0.33 (D/L)0.055

Equivalent diameter for rectangular section

Dh (or) De =(4A / P) = [4LW/2(L+W)]

Where A – Area in m2, P – Perimeter in m, L – Length in m, W – Width in m.

FORCED CONVECTION
Equivalent diameter for hollow cylinder (annular spaces)

4  

Do2  Di2 
Dh (or) De = (4A / P) = 4 
  Do  Di 

Where Do – Outer diameter in m, Di – Inner diameter in m

Heat transfer
Q = h A (Tw - Tm) where A = π D L (m2) Tmo  Tmi
Tm – Mean temperature oC, = 2
Tmi – Inlet temperature C,
o

Tmo – Outlet temperature oC.

Tw – Tube wall temperature oC
Q = m Cp(Tmo - Tmi)

Mass flow rate

m = ρ x A x U (kg/s)
where ρ – Density in kg/ m3 , A – Area, (π/4)D2 in m2 , U – Velocity in m/s.
Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
1) Water flows inside a tube of 20 mm diameter and 3 m long flows at a velocity of 0.03 m/s. The
water gets heated from 40o C to 120o C while passing through the tube. The tube wall is
maintained at constant temperature of 160 o C. Find heat transfer rate
Given:
Diameter, D = 0.020 m Length, L = 3 m Velocity, U = 0.03 m/s
Inner temperature of water, Tmi = 40 C
o
Outer temperature of water, Tmo = 120o C
Wall temperature, Tw = 160o C

To find: Heat transfer rate ( Q )

Solution:
Bulk mean Temp, Re = (UD/γ) = 1648.35
Tm = (Tmi+T mo) / 2 Since Re < 2300, flow is laminar.
= 80o C
For laminar flow, Nu = 3.66 (HMT Data book, Pg: 123)
Properties of water at 80o C
(HMT Data book, Pg: 21) Average heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D
ρ = 974 kg/m3 h =122.39 W/m2K
γ = 0.364 x 10-6 m2/s
Pr = 2.22 Heat transfer rate, Q = h A (Tw - Tm) = h πDL (Tw-Tm)
k = 0.6687 W/ mK Q = 1845.29 W
Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
2) When 0.6 kg of water per minute is passed through a tube of 2 cm diameter, it is found to
be heated from 20o C to 60o C. The heating is achieved by condensing steam on the surface
of the tube and subsequently the surface temperature of the tube is maintained at 90 o C.
Determine the length of the tube required for fully developed flow.
Given:
Mass, m = 0.01 kg/s Diameter, D = 0.02 m
Inlet temperature, Tmi = 20o C Outlet temperature, Tmo = 60o C
Tube surface temperature, Tw = 90o C
To find: Length of the tube, ( L )
Mass flow rate, m = ρAU Re = (UD/γ) = 943.6
Solution: Velocity, U = m/ ρA = 0.031 m/s Since Re < 2300,
Bulk mean Temp, flow is laminar.
Tm = (Tmi+T mo) / 2
For laminar flow, Nu = 3.66 (HMT Data book, Pg: 123)
= 40o C
Properties of water at 40o C Average heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D
(HMT Data book, Pg: 11) h = 114.9 W/m2K
ρ = 995 kg/m3 Heat transfer, Q = m Cp ∆T
Q = hA ∆T = h πDL (Tw-Tm)
γ = 0.657 x 10-6 m2/s m Cp (Tmo - Tmi) = 1671.2 W
Pr = 4.340
k = 0.628 W/mK => L = Q/ h πD (Tw-Tm)
Cp = 4178 J/kg K Length of the tube, L = 4.62 m
 Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
3) Water at 50o C enters 50 mm diameter and 4 m long tube with a velocity of 0.8 m/s. The
tube wall is maintained at a constant temperature of 90 o C. Determine the heat transfer
coefficient and the total amount of heat transferred if exit water temperature is 70 o C.
Given:
Diameter, D = 0.05 m Length, L = 4 m Velocity, U = 0.8 m/s
Inner temperature, Tmi = 50o C Exit temperature, Tmo = 70 C
o

Tube wall temperature, Tw = 90o C

To find: i) Heat transfer coefficient ( h ), ii) Heat transfer rate ( Q )

Solution:
Bulk mean Temp, Re = (UD/γ) = 8.36 x 104 Since Re > 2300, flow is turbulent.
Tm = (Tmi+T mo) / 2 L/D = 80 > 60, Re = 8.36 x 104 > 10000,
Pr = 3.020 => 0.6 < Pr <160
= 60o C
Properties of water at 60o C L/D ratio is greater than 60. Re value is greater than 10000 and
(HMT Data book, Pg: 21) Pr value is in between 0.6 and 160.
ρ = 985 kg/m3 So, Nu =0.023(Re)0.8(Pr)n (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
γ = 0.478 x 10-6 m2/s The process involved is heating, hence n = 0.4
Pr = 3.020
Nu = 310
k = 0.6513 W/mK
Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D = 4039.3 W/m2K

Heat transfer, Q = h A (Tw-Tm)= h πDL (Tw-Tm) = 76,139 W

Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
4) Water flows through 0.8 cm diameter, 3 m long tube at an average temperature of 40 o C.
The flow velocity is 0.65 m/s and tube wall temperature is 140 o C. Calculate the average heat
transfer coefficient.
Given:
Diameter, D = 0.008 m Length, L = 3 m Average temperature, Tm = 40o C
Velocity, U = 0.65 m/s Tube wall temperature, Tw = 140o C
To find: Heat transfer coefficient, ( h )

Properties of water at 40o C

(HMT Data book, Pg: 11) L/D = 375, 10 < L/D < 400
ρ = 995 kg/m3
γ = 0.657 x 10-6 m2/s L/D ratio is in between 10 and 400, Re < 10000, so,
Pr = 4.340 Nu = 0.036 (Re)0.8(Pr)0.33(D/L)0.055 (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
k = 0.628 W/mK
Nu = 55.44
Re = (UD/γ) = 7914.76
Since Re > 2300, flow is Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D
turbulent. h = 4352.3 W/m2K
 Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
5) Water at 30o C, 20 m/s flows through a straight tube of 60 mm diameter. The tube surface
is maintained at 70o C and outlet temperature of water is 50 o C. Find the heat transfer
coefficient from the tube surface to the water, heat transferred and the tube length.
Given:
Inlet temperature, Tmi = 30o C Velocity, U = 20 m/s Diameter, D = 0.060 m
Outlet temperature, Tmo = 50o C Tube surface temperature, Tw = 70o C
To find: i) Heat transfer coefficient ( h ), ii) Heat transferred ( Q ), 3. Tube Length ( L )

Solution:
For turbulent flow, general equation is (Re >10000)
Bulk mean Temp,
Nu =0.023(Re)0.8(Pr)n (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
Tm = (Tmi+T mo) / 2
This is heating process, so n=0.4
= 40o C
Properties of water at 40o C Nu = 4177.7
(HMT Data book, Pg: 21)
Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D = 43726.59 W/m2K
ρ = 995 kg/m3
γ = 0.657 x 10-6 m2/s Mass flow rate, m = ρAU = ρ((π/4) x D )U = 56.2 kg/s
2

Pr = 4.340
k = 0.628 W/mK Heat transfer, Q = m Cp (Tmo - Tmi) = 4.69 x 106 W
Cp = 4178 J/kg K
Heat transfer, Q = h A (Tw – Tm) = h (πDL) (Tw – Tm)
Re = (UD/γ) = 1.8 x 106
Flow is turbulent So, L = Q/ h πD (Tw-Tm) = 18.96 m
Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
6) Air at 15o C, 35 m/s, flows through a hollow cylinder of 4 cm inner diameter and 6 cm
outer diameter and leaves at 45 o C. Tube wall is maintained at 60 o C. Calculate the heat
transfer coefficient between the air and the inner tube.
Given:
Inlet temperature, Tmi = 15o C Inner Diameter, Di = 0.04 m Velocity, U = 35 m / s
Exit temperature, Tmo = 45o C Outer Diameter, Do = 0.06 m, Wall temp, Tw = 60o C
To find: Heat transfer coefficient ( h )
Solution:
Mean Temp,
Tm = (Tmi+T mo) / 2 ReDe = (U De /γ) = 43750
= 30o C
Properties of air at 30o C Since Re > 2300, flow is turbulent.
(HMT Data book, Pg: 33) For turbulent flow, general equation is (Re >10000)
ρ = 1.165 kg/m3 Nu =0.023(Re)0.8(Pr)n (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
γ = 16 x 10-6 m2/s This is heating process, so n=0.4
Pr = 0.701
k = 0.02675 W/mK Nu = 102.9

Hydraulic or Equivalent diameter Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / De

De = 4A/P h = 137.7 W/m2K
= (4(π/4)[Do2 – Di2])/(π )[Do + Di])
= 0.02 m
 Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
7) Air at 30o C, 6 m/s flows in a rectangular section of size 300 x 800 mm. Calculate the heat
leakage per meter length per unit temperature difference.
Given:
Air temperature, Tm = 30o C Velocity, U = 6 m/s
Area = 0.3 x 0.8 m2 = 0.24 m2
To find: Heat leakage per meter length per unit temperature difference.

Properties of air at 30o C

(HMT Data book, Pg: 33) Re = (U De /γ) = 1.63 x 104
ρ = 1.165 kg/m3 Since Re > 2300, flow is turbulent.
γ = 16 x 10-6 m2/s For turbulent flow, general equation is (Re >10000)
Pr = 0.701
k = 0.02675 W/mK Nu =0.023(Re)0.8(Pr)n (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
Assuming heating process, => n=0.4

Equivalent diameter (De) Nu = 294.96

De = 4A/P =4(0.3 x 0.8) / 2( 0.3 + 0.8)
Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / De = 18.09 W/m2K
where P – Perimeter = 2 (H + W)
De = 0.436 m
Q = h A (Tw – Tm) = h (PL) ΔT
(Q / L ΔT) = h P = 39.79 W
Flow through Cylinders – Internal Flow
8) Air at 333 K, 1.5 bar pressure, flow through 12 cm diameter tube. The surface
temperature of the tube is maintained at 400 K and mass flow rate is 75 kg/hr. Calculate the
heat transfer rate for 1.5 m length of the tube.
Given:
Air temperature, Tm = 333 K= 60o C, Diameter, D=0.12 m, Wall temperature, Tw =400K=127o C
Mass flow rate, m = 75 kg/hr = 75 kg / 3600 s = 0.020 kg/s Length = 1.5 m
To find: Heat transfer rate ( Q )
Solution:
Since the pressure is not much Re = (U D /γ) = 10551.3
above atmospheric, physical Since Re > 2300, flow is turbulent.
properties of air may be taken at For turbulent flow, general equation is (Re >10000)
atmospheric condition.
Properties of air at 60o C Nu =0.023(Re)0.8(Pr)n (HMT Data book, Pg: 125)
(HMT Data book, Pg: 33) This is heating process, so n=0.4
ρ = 1.060 kg/m3
Nu = 32.9
γ = 18.97 x 10-6 m2/s
Pr = 0.696 Heat transfer coefficient, h = Nu k / D
k = 0.02896 W/mK h = 7.94 W/m2K
m = ρAU = ρ ((π/4) D2) U
Velocity, U = m/ ρ ((π/4) D2) Heat transfer rate, Q = h A (Tw - Tm) = h πDL (Tw-Tm)
= 1.668 m/s Q = 300.82 W
 HOME WORK
Air at 2 bar pressure and 60 o C is heated as it flows through a tube of diameter 25 mm at a
velocity of 15 m/s. If the wall temperature is maintained at 100 o C, find the heat transfer per
unit length of the tube. How much would be the bulk temperature increase over one meter
length of the tube.