Natural and Forced Convection Experiment

INME 4236

Table of Contents
Principle Objective Background Newtons law of cooling Experimental Setup Description of the Equipment: Useful Data Procedure 1. Free convection experiments o Observations o Analysis of results o Comparison to theoretical correlations 2. Forced convection experiments o Observations o Analysis of results o Comparison to theoretical correlations 3. Procedure for transient experiments Tasks Required for Steady State Experiments Tasks Required for Transient Experiments 3 3 3 3 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 11 11

INME 4236

University of Puerto Rico Mayagez Campus Department of Mechanical Engineering

INME 4236 - Thermal Sciences Laboratory

Natural And Forced Convection Experiment Principle

This experiment is designed to illustrate Newtons law of cooling by convection and to understand how the heat transfer coefficient is obtained experimentally. Natural and forced convection over a heated cylinder is analyzed and experimental results are compared with standard correlations.

Objectives
1. Determine the heat transfer coefficient for flow around a cylinder under free and forced convection. 2. Understand the correlation between Nu, Reynolds and Rayleigh numbers. 3. Compare with standard correlations from textbooks on heat transfer. 4. Determine the effect of thermal radiation for both natural and forced convection. 5. Study the transient temperature response of a solid object as it cools due to natural or forced convection.

Background
Newtons Law of Cooling For convective heat transfer, the rate equation is known as Newtons law of cooling and is expressed as: q = h (Ts T )

INME 4236

Where Ts is the surface temperature, T the fluid temperature, h is the convection heat transfer coefficient and q is the convective heat flux. The heat transfer coefficient h is a function of the fluid flow, so, it is influenced by the surface geometry, the fluid motion in the boundary layer and the fluid properties as well. The normalized momentum and energy equations for a boundary layer can be expressed as follows,
U* U * U * P* 1 2U * +V * * = * + x* y x Re L y *2

U*

T * T * 1 2T * +V* * = . x* y Re L Pr y*2

Independently of the solution of these equations for a particular case, the functional form for U* and T* can be written as, U* = f(x*,y*,ReL, dp*/dx*), T* = f(x*,y*,ReL, Pr, dp*/dx*). Due to the no-slip condition at the wall surface of the boundary layer, heat transfer occurs by conduction between the solid and the fluid molecules at the wall,
qs = k f
"

T y

.
y =0

By combining Fouriers Law evaluated at the wall with Newtons law of cooling, we can define the heat transfer coefficient as follows,
kf h= T y

y =0

Ts T

* In this analysis, T* is defined as T =

T Ts and as a result, h can be written in terms of T Ts

this dimensionless temperature profile T* as follows,

h= k f (T Ts ) T * L(Ts T ) y *
y* =0

k f T * L y *

y* =0

This expression suggests defining a dimensionless parameter,

INME 4236

Nu =

hL T * = * kf y

.
y* =0

The dimensionless temperature profile implies a functional form for the Nusselt number that depends on other parameters also, Nu = f(x*,ReL*,Pr,dp*/dx*). To calculate an average heat transfer coefficient, we have to integrate over x *, so the average Nusselt number becomes independent of x *. For a prescribed geometry, dp * is dx *

a result of the flow field and can be determined and specified and so the average Nusselt number becomes,
Nu L = f (Re L , Pr)

This means that the Nusselt number, for a prescribed geometry is a universal function of the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. Doing a similar analysis for free convection, it can be shown that, Nu = f (Gr, Pr) or
Nu = f ( Ra , Pr) .

Gr is the Grashof number and Ra is the Rayleigh number. The Rayleigh number is simply the product of Grashof and Prandtl numbers (Ra = Gr Pr). For free convection, the Nusselt number is a universal function of the Grashof and Prandtl numbers or Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers.

Experimental setup
Description of the Combined Convection and Radiation Heat Transfer Equipment: The combined convection and radiation heat transfer equipment (Figure 1) allows investigating the heat transfer of a radiant cylinder located in a crossflow of air and the effect of increasing the surface temperature. The unit allows investigation of both natural convection with radiation and forced convection. The experimental setup is

INME 4236

designed such that heat loss by conduction through the wall of the duct is minimized. A thermocouple (T10) is attached to the surface of the cylinder. The surface of the cylinder is coated with a matt black finish, which results in an emissivity close to 1.0. The experimental setup allows the cylinder and thermocouple (T 10) position to be turned 360 and locked in any position using a screw. An index mark on the end of the setup allows the actual position of the surface to be determined. The cylinder can reach a temperature in excess of 600C when operated at maximum voltage and still air. The recommended maximum for the normal operation is 500C. Beware of hot surfaces.

Useful Data:
Cylinder diameter D = 1.0 cm Cylinder heated length L = 7.0 cm Effective air velocity local to cylinder due to blockage effect: U e = (1.22) (Ua ), where Ue is the effective fluid velocity and Ua is the fluid incoming velocity. Physical properties of air at atmospheric pressure: Appendix of Heat Transfer textbook.

INME 4236

Figure 1. Combined Convection and Radiation Heat Transfer Equipment.

Procedure for convection experiments

a) Connect instruments to the heat transfer unit b) Measure the reading for the surface temperature of the cylinder, the temperature and velocity of the air flow and the power supplied by the heater. c) Repeat step 2 for different velocities the air flow and various levels of power input.

1. Free convection experiments Observations

Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 V Volts 3 6 9 12 15 18 I Amp T9 C T10 C

Analysis of results
Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 Qinput W hr W/m2K hC W/m2K hC1th W/m2K hC2th W/m2K

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The total heat input is, Qinput = VI The heat transfer rate by radiation is, Qrad = A (Ts4 Ta4) = hr A (Ts Ta). So, hr = (Ts4 Ta4 ) Ts Ta

The heat transfer rate by convection is then, Qconv = Qinput - Qrad From Newtons law of cooling,
Q conv = h c A(Ts Ta )

And finally we can determine the heat transfer coefficient as follows,

hc =

Q conv . A(Ts Ta )

You must report these results for all the data points collected.

Comparison to theoretical correlations

For an isothermal long horizontal cylinder, Morgan suggests a correlation of the form,

Nu D =

hD = C Ra n D k

C and n are a coefficient and exponent respectively that depend on the Rayleigh number as shown in the following table. Rayleigh number 10-10 10-2 10-2 102 102 104 104 107 107 1012 The Rayleigh number defined as, C 0.675 1.02 0.850 0.480 0.125 n 0.058 0.148 0.188 0.250 0.333

g (Ts Ta ) D3 Ra = Pr , 2

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where is the compressibility and for an ideal gas is calculated as = 1/T film (Tfilm in absolute scale) and Tfilm = (Ts+Ta). Churchill and Chu recommend a single correlation for a wide range of Rayleigh numbers, Nu D= 0.60

0.387 Ra1 /6

[ 10.559/ Pr ]

9/ 16 8 / 27

, Ra <1012

From both correlations, we can determine h C1th and hC2th and compare with hc obtained from the experiment.

2. Forced convection Observations

Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 V Volts I Amp Ua m/s 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 6 T9 C T10 C

Analysis of results
Set 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Qinput W hr W/m2K hC W/m2K Re Nu1 Nu2 hC1th hC2th -

Comparison with theoretical correlations

For an isothermal long horizontal cylinder, Hilper suggests the following correlation, INME 4236

Nu D =

hD = C Re m Pr1 / 3 , D k C
0.989 0.911 0.683 0.193 0.027

where C and m are coefficients that depend on the Reynolds number. ReD
0.4-4 4-40 40-4000 4000-400000 40000-400000

m
0.330 0.385 0.466 0.618 0.805

All properties are evaluated at the film temperature, Tfilm = Ts + Ta . 2

Churchill and Bernstein proposed the following correlation for RePr>0.2 0.62 Re1 /2 Pr 1 /3

Nu D=0.3

[ ]
0.4 1 Pr

2/ 3 1/ 4

Re D 1 282000

5 /8 4/ 5

where all properties are evaluated at the film temperature. Using both Hilpers and Churchill and Bernsteins correlations we can determine the theoretical heat transfer coefficient values h C1th and hC2th and compare with the value obtained from the experiment hc. 3. Procedure for transient experiments 1. Start the heat transfer unit and set a voltage between 15 - 18 volts. 2. Start the heater until a steady state temperature is obtained on the heater surface without operating the fan. Record the current, voltage, ambient temperature (T9) , and initial surface temperature (T10). 3. Using a chronometer record the time and measure the surface temperature (T 10) to generate a time series table of at least 20 data points when the heater power

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is turned off and the fan is operating at a predetermined speed between 2 - 6 m/s. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the same power input but without operating the fan during the transient.

Tasks Required for Steady State Experiments You will collect all the experimental data required during the experiments for both natural and forced convection and will include this data in your report. In addition to the required analysis and comparison with correlations, you will generate the following plots for both natural and forced convection experiments: (a) Surface temperature vs heat input to cylinder for the natural convection experiment. (b) Surface temperature vs incoming fluid velocity for the forced convection experiment. (c) On the same graph, plot the Nusselt numbers determined from the experimental data and correlations vs Rayleigh or Reynolds number depending on the case. (d) Show tables comparing the experimental values to the predicted values using the respective correlations and calculate the percentage difference between these values. (e) What is the contribution of radiative heat transfer to the process?

Tasks Required for Transient Experiments (a) Generate graphs that show the surface temperature versus time in order to compare to the expected theoretical temperature values on the same graph. (b) Calculate the experimental and theoretical heat transfer rate from the system to the surroundings as a function of time and present the results in graphical form. (c) Report the experimental and theoretical thermal time constant of the system.

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(d) What is the contribution of radiative heat transfer to the process? Discuss the effectiveness of the lumped thermal capacitance model to describe the transient temperature response of the cylinder.

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INME 4236