Tutor : Dr Ong Ban Choon Charles

FORCED CONVECTION
REPORT
By Lee Jun Ming (s10145741B ) P01

Summary
An experiment was conducted to test for:
- The effect on heat transfer from a cylinder with varying air velocity and
surface temperature when subjected to forced convection.
- The link between air velocity and surface temperature when under forced
convection condition.
A HT14 combined convection and radiation accessory and a HT10X heat
transfer service unit were used to conduct the experiment. Where a cylinder will
be heated in a metal dust and subjected to forced convection with constant
power input and air velocity vary from 1m/s to 6m/s with a step of 1m/s for
every recording. With air velocity, Surface temperature of cylinder, ambient
temperature around the cylinder, voltage and current recorded for every 1m/s
increase in air velocity.
Data were calculated and analysed and conclusion is that under forced
convection increased air velocity decreases surface temperature as heat loss is
higher with higher nusselt number due to increased air velocity.
Additionally, the data shown that at low air velocity rate of change of Surface
temperature is higher compared to the rate of change of surface temperature at
high air velocity.

Introduction
The purpose of this experiment is to test for the effect on heat transfer from a
surface of cylinder that subjected to forced convection with varying air velocity
and surface temperature. Additional, to show the relationship between air
velocity and surface temperature under forced convection condition.
Matters Transfer heat in three ways; conduction, convection and radiation.
Conduction occurs when hot solid medium transfers heat to a colder solid
medium through direct physical contact.
Radiation occurs when a hot body emit out electromagnetic fluid to a colder
region or body without physical contact or medium.
Convection occurs when Hot region fluid transfers heat to a colder region fluid
through movement of fluid due to density different, with hotter region lesser
density and colder region more density. This mostly occurred in the nature and
the result is wind , when the hot air rises and the cold air sink creating a
movement of air fluid which we called wind . However when we started to
introduce compressor or pump or fan into a system to force a region of fluid to
flow past a solid matter to encourage heat transfer, it can be called forced
convection
In our everyday life we depends on the application of forced convection. For Air
conditional system, motor driven blower in it draws surrounding air into it,
cooling it down and forces the cool air out of the system, creating a convection
circulation in the room with hot air rises to the system and cooler air sinking
onto the floor.

Results & Calculation

1
2
3
4
5
6

Uc /
T10 / C
T9 / C
Voltage/V
Ua/ m/s
I/A
m/s
402
22.2
20
1.03
3.4 1.2566
364
23.5
20
2
3.41
2.44
318
22.2
20
3.01
3.41 3.6722
289
22
20
4
3.42
4.88
267
21.1
20
5
3.43
6.1
249
23.4
20
6
3.44
7.32
Pr

k (W/mK) v (m2/s)
Re
Nu
Tfilm (K)
0.680894 0.039393
3.61E-05
348.5231 9.53775
485.1

0.681995

0.683828

0.68558

0.686954

0.687896

1
2
3
4
5
6

Hf (W/m2K)
37.572678
11
52.707356
3
65.423702
94
76.179698
95
86.046482
16
95.155067
15

6
0.038178
9

3.37837E05
3.09082E05
2.92117E05
2.78812E05

722.24286
01
1188.0981
82
1670.5635
07
2187.8533
97
2714.2234
21

0.036598
0.035599
4
0.034816
2
0.034279
3 2.6969E-05
Hr
(W/m2K)
Qf (K)
Qr (W)
29.85785 31.381595 24.937991
4
85
31
26.13027 39.467195 19.566315
7
08
1
21.92923 42.557999 14.264926
4
35
96
44.729951 11.494415
19.57617
38
86
17.88141 46.530697 9.6695961
6
34
79
16.72081 47.208361 8.2955368
7
59
7

7
13.8053
8
17.8762
9
21.3991
5
24.7144
8
27.7587
7

466.75
443.1
428.5
417.05
409.2

QTOT (W) Qin (W)

56.3195
9
68
59.0335
1
68.2
56.8229
3
68.2
56.2243
7
68.4
56.2002
9
68.6
55.5039

When Ua = 1.03m/s
Tfilm
= (Ts+Ta)/2
,1
= (402+273+22.2+273)/2
= 485.1 K
As

: 0.01*PIE*0.07 =0.002199114 m2

Pr

: (0.683-0.680)/(450-500)=(X-0.680)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)(-6E-05)=X-0.680
X=0.680894
X=Pr

: (0.03707-0.04038)/(450-500)=(X-0.04038)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)*0.0000662=X-0.04038
X=0.03939362 W/mK
X=k

: (3.171E-5-3.790E-5)/(450-500)=(X-3.790E-5)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)*1.238E-07=X-3.790E-5

68.8

X=3.6055E-05 m2/s
X=v
Re

: ((1.22*1.03)*0.01)/3.6055E-05=Re
Re=348.5231

Nu

0.3+[(0.62*(348.52310.5)(0.6808940.33))/
: ((1+(0.4/0.680894)0.66)0.25)]*[1+(348.5231/282000)0.5]
Nu=9.537757157

Hf

: (0.03939362*9.537757157)/0.01=Hf
Hf=37.57267811 W/m2K
(5.67E-8*1*1)(((402+273)^4-(22.2+273)^4)/((402+273): (22.2+273)))=Hr

Hr

Hr=29.85785442 W/m2K
Qf

: 37.57267811*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((402+273)-(22.2+273))=Qf
Qf=31.38159585 W

Qr

: 29.85785442*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((402+273)-(22.2+273))=Qr
Qr=24.93799131 W

QTO
T

: 24.93799131+31.38159585=QTOT
QTOT= 56.31958716 W

Qin

: 3.4*20=Qin
Qin=68 W

Uc

: 1.22*1.03=Uc
Uc = 1.2566

Discussion
II)

From the result obtained, Qin is larger than Qtot by 10% to 20%
throughout the experiment. The reason behind this different maybe
due to undetected form of heat transfer, in this case conduction.

Conduction is the transfer of heat from hot solid medium to a colder

solid medium through direct contact. In our experiment the heated
cylinder is placed on top of the metal dust with direct contact. This
allow the heat from the heated cylinder to be transferred to the metal
dust through conduction. The heat from the metal dust will be radiated
away to the environment or transferred to the surrounding air through
conduction in very minimal amount. This explains the undetected
form of heat transfer or lost which result in the different in the two
calculated valve.
III)

From the result obtained, Qf is larger than Qr throughout the

experiment and Qf increases with air velocity increases while Qr
decreases with air velocity increases. (Disclaimer question never ask for reason)

IV)

T10 vs Uc graph
450
400
350
300
250

Surface temperatue , T10 (C)

200
150
100
50
0

Correct Air velocity, Uc (m/s)

Surface temperature decrease with correct air velocity increases. As air

velocity increases nusselt number increases and Hf, largely depended
on nusselt number, increases with nusselt number increases. With Hf
increases, Qf will increases as Qf depends on its coefficient Hf. With
Qf increases the heat lost to the environment (Metal Dust) will
increase. As a result the surface temperature decreases due to the loss
of heat energy with the air velocity increases.
Additionally at low air velocity the rate of change of temperature is

higher than the rate of change of temperature at high velocity. The

reason is that power input is fixed throughout experiment and at low
velocity there is lesser air particles flowing in and out of the metal
dust. So the air particles can afford to have more heat transfer to them.
While at high velocity, there are more air particle flowing in and out
and with fixed power input there is only this much of heat to be
transfer to that many air particle. At low air velocity the rate of change
of temperature is higher than the rate of change of temperature at high
velocity
V)

increase number fan , this increase total amount of force added to a

region of air and this increase the velocity of the air (given air
traveling pathway capacity/volume is the same) . With increased
velocity of air, there will be more a increases in Hf and Qf. Which
result a greater transfer of heat from surface temperature of the fin
tube to the air in the environment
Increase the length of the tube but not diameter or increase number of
fin tube , This increase the total surface area which increases Qf due to
Qf = A(Ts Ta) . With increased Qf heat transfer to the air in the
environment will be increased and the surface temperature of fin tube
will be lower greatly
Painting Fin tube with absolute black paint (if economically and
technically possible), with absolute black fin tube it will encourage
emitting which will increases the Hr and Qr. With Qr increases the
amount of radiation will be increased and the heat loss to the air in the
environment will be increased greatly

VI)

When Qa = 1.03m/s

Tfilm
,1

= (Ts+Ta)/2
= (402+273+22.2+273)/2
= 485.1

As

: 0.01*PIE*0.07 =0.002199114 m2

Pr

: (0.683-0.680)/(450-500)=(X-0.680)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)(-6E-05)=X-0.680
X=0.680894
X=Pr

: (0.03707-0.04038)/(450-500)=(X-0.04038)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)*0.0000662=X-0.04038
X=0.03939362 W/mK
X=k

: (3.171E-5-3.790E-5)/(450-500)=(X-3.790E-5)/(485.1-500)
(485.1-500)*1.238E-07=X-3.790E-5
X=3.6055E-05 m2/s
X=v

Re

: ((1.22*1.03)*0.01)/3.6055E-05=Re
Re=348.5231

Nu

0.3+[(0.62*(348.52310.5)(0.6808940.33))/
: ((1+(0.4/0.680894)0.66)0.25)]*[1+(348.5231/282000)0.5]
Nu=9.537757157

Hf

: (0.03939362*9.537757157)/0.01=Hf
Hf=37.57267811 W/m2K

Hr

(5.67E-8*1*1)(((402+273)^4-(22.2+273)^4)/((402+273): (22.2+273)))=Hr
Hr=29.85785442 W/m2K

Qf

: 37.57267811*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((402+273)-(22.2+273))=Qf
Qf=31.38159585 W

Qr

: 29.85785442*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((402+273)-(22.2+273))=Qr
Qr=24.93799131 W

QTO
T

: 24.93799131+31.38159585=QTOT
QTOT= 56.31958716 W

Qin

: 3.41*20=Qin
Qin=68.2 W

Uc

: 1.22*2=Uc
Uc = 1.2566m/s

When Qa = 2m/s
Tfil
m,1

= (Ts+Ta)/2
= (364+273+235+273)/2
= 466.75 K

As

: 0.01*PIE*0.07 =0.002199114 m2

Pr

: (0.683-0.680)/(450-500)=(X-0.680)/(466.75-500)
(466.75-500)(-6E-05)=X-0.680
X=0.681995
X=Pr

: (0.03707-0.04038)/(450-500)=(X-0.04038)/(466.75-500)
(466.75-500)*0.0000662=X-0.04038
X=0.03817885 W/mK
X=k

: (3.171E-5-3.790E-5)/(450-500)=(X-3.790E-5)/(466.75-500)
(466.75-500)*1.238E-07=X-3.790E-5
X=3.3783E-05 m2/s
X=v

Re

: ((1.22*2)*0.01)/3.3783E-05=Re
Re=722.2567564

Nu

0.3+[(0.62*(722.25675640.5)(0.6819950.33))/
: ((1+(0.4/0.681995)0.66)0.25)]*[1+(722.2567564/282000)0.5]
Nu=13.80551699

Hf

: (0.03817885*13.80551699)/0.01=Hf
Hf=52.70787623 W/m2K

Hr

(5.67E-8*1*1)(((364+273)^4-(23.5+273)^4)/((364+273): (23.5+273)))=Hr
Hr=26.13027704 W/m2K

Qf

: 52.70787623*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((364+273)-(23.5+273))=Qf
Qf=39.4675844 W

Qr

: 26.13027704*(0.01*PIE*0.07)*((364+273)-(23.5+273))=Qr
Qr=19.5663151 W

QT
OT

: 39.4675844 + 19.5663151 =QTOT

QTOT= 59.0338995 W

Qin

: 3.4*20=Qin
Qin=68 W

Uc

: 1.22*2=Uc
Uc = 2.44 m/s

Theoretically, the heat supplied to an object must be equal to the total heat transferred
from the object under equilibrium condition.[1] As what went in must come out if not
it will be accumulated
However in the result obtained from this experiment, the heat input is not equal
to the total heat transferred due to convection and radiation. This is because
theoretically the system is designed so that conduction is very little to the point
where it wont affect the calculation. However for practical application conduction
will need to be included in the calculation to minimize variation of result.[2]

Conclusion
With the result of the experiment, it can be concluded that in forced convection
condition Surface temperature decrease with air velocity increases. Due to the
influence of air velocity has on nusselt number that has an indirect influence on
heat loss due to convection. Additionally, Low air velocity rate of change of
surface temperature is higher compared to the rate of change of surface
temperature at high air velocity.

Reference
1. Llewellyn Michael Kraus Boelter, V.H. Cherry, H.A. Johnson and R.C. Martinelli,
Heat Transfer Notes, 1948, Heat flow and temperature distribution with given
temperature of surrounding. Stead state, Iib 40.
2. Anonymous, HT14 Combined Convection and Radiation-Lab Report, 2013,
Conclusion, pg. 5, http://www.google.com.sg/url?
sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&
url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeople.exeter.ac.uk%2Frmjd201%2FCombined
%2520Convection%2520and%2520Radiation
%2520Report.odt&ei=9RRXVIGPE4OouQTKw4LQAQ&usg=AFQjCNF1hUGxfqrg
2loOGEezOD4_LKCS8Q&sig2=OFLe5huXpbaI9qxrdxWlWg&bvm=bv.78677474,d.
c2E.