Experiment Name Free and Forced Convection (HT-304)

Aim/Objective
1. To study forced convection in Pinned heater and determine the average heat
transfer coefficient associated with it .
2. Calculate the Fin efficiency of Pinned heater.
Motivation
Heat transfer by simultaneous conduction and convection, whether free or forced, forms
the basis of most industrial heaters and related equipment. The measurement and
prediction of heat transfer coefficients for such circumstances is achieved in the Armfield
apparatus by studying the temperature profiles and heat flux in duct with heating surface
(having Pins).
Experiment Setup

Position of temperature probe from base plate in Pinned Heater

T4
10mm
T5
36mm
T6
62mm

Theory

Transverse Pitch ST
Longitudinal pitch SL
Diagonal pitch SD

ST 2
SD= S +
2
S +D
If S D > T
2
ST
V max =
U
ST D a
else,
ST
V max =
U
2 ( SD D ) a
2
L

( )

Average Heat Transfer Coefficient

Zakaukas expression
0.25
hD
m
n Pr
Nu D =
=C Re . D Pr
k
Pr s

( )

value of C, m,n depends on

.Vmax . D
R e . D=

Range of Re . D
0-500
500-1000

Re . D

Correlation
Pr
1.04 Re . D0.4 Pr 0.36
Pr s

( )
Pr
0.71 R
Pr
( Pr )
0.35
( SS ) . R Pr ( PrPr )
0.031
( SS ) . R Pr ( PrPr )
0.5

0.25

0.36

e. D

1000-2X10

0.25

0.2

0.6

0.25

0.36

e.D

2X105-2X106

0.2

0.8

0.36

e.D

0.25

Note:
Prs evaluated at Average of T3 to T6, while all other properties are evaluated at average of T1
and T2.

NuL = fNuD where f=0.93

Heat transfer rate
Q=h A s T ln
( T s T 2) ( T s T 1 )
T ln =
ln [ ( T s T 2 ) / ( T s T 1 ) ]
T1 air input temperature
T2 air output temperature
Ts Surface temperature
A s HT surface area = D L p N
L p length of tubes = 68mm
N number of tubes = 17

= 0.0435m2

Fin Efficiency

tanh mL
( hP )
=
;
mL
k Ac
where,
h - average heat transfer coefficient ;
P- Perimeter of one tube;
k - thermal conductivity of Aluminium ;
Ac- - Cross Section of one tube ;
m=

Procedure
1. Place the Pinned heater into the duct and set the heater power control to 75watts.
2. As the heater temperature attains 80 oC adjust the heater power control 19 watts
until steady reading is obtained.
3. Log all the data through computer software by hitting 'GO' button.
4. Repeat steps by increasing the air velocity to 1m/s, 1.5m/s, 2m/s.
Observation
Table-01: Observation table for Temperature and velocity

Table-02: Calculation for Prs

Table-03: Calculation for Pr and heat transfer coefficient (h)

Table-04: Calculation for fin efficiency

Sample Calculation
ST= 28mm, SL=16.5mm,SD= 21.63mm, Diameter of one pin = 12mm
Let us assume air velocity = 2 m/s
at 2 m/s
Density
Viscosity
Specific heat
Conductivity
Pr

V max =

NuD =

Tavg 1-2

34.6 C
1.1474 [kg/m3]
1.8896 X 10-5 [kg/ms]
1006.7
[J/kgK]
0.02668
[w/mK]
0.7130

ST

( ST D )

U a for Ua =2 m/s,

S
0.35 T
SL

0.2

( )

. Re . D0.6 Pr 0.36

Pr
Pr s

Vmax= 6.909 m/s and

R e . D=

0.25

( )

= 46.408

NuL = 0.93 NuD = 46.408

NuL .k
= 95.957 W/m2K
D
Q=h A s T ln
( T s T 2) ( T s T 1 )
T ln =
=7.1
ln [ ( T s T 2 ) / ( T s T 1 ) ]
h=

Q=h A s T ln

= 29.49 W

Fin efficiency
h =95.957 W/m2K
C = 2r = 0.0376 m
k of aluminium = 220 W/mK
A = r2 = 0.00011m2
m= 12.21 ; L = 0.068m;

mL = 0.83;

1
=120
mL

.Vmax . D
=5034.4

Results And Conclusion

1. The Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient is 95.957 W/m2K, when air velocity

is 2m/s and Heater Surface Temperature is 42.8 oC.

2. Longfin Efficiency - 120 % while insulated tip efficiency is 82%.

Air
Velocity
Ua
[m/s]
0.0
0.9
1.6
2.0

Pin
surface
temperatur
e (T3-T1)
28.5
11.2
9.7
8.9

surface temperature (deg C)

pinned surface temperature VS air velocity

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

air velocity (m/s)

Fig1. Surface temperature of pinned heater decreases with increasing air velocity

Rate of Heat transfer VS air velocity

Air
Velocity
Ua
[m/s]
0.0
0.9
1.6
2.0

rate of HT,
Q (W)
4.66
25.29
27.36
29.49

rate of heat transfer (W)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

air velocity (m/s)

Fig2. Rate of heat transfer at pinned surface increases with increasing air velocity

Fin efficiency VS air velocity

1.2

Air
Velocity
Ua
[m/s]
0.0
0.9
1.6
2.0

Insulatedti
p
efficiency,
(TANH
Ml/mL)
0.99
0.87
0.84
0.82

fin efficiency

1
0.8
0.6
0.4

Insulatedtip efficiency, (TANH Ml/mL)

0.2
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

air velocity (m/s)

Fig3. Fin efficiency of pinned heater decreases with increasing air velocity

Concepts Learned 1. Forced convection in a Heater with Pinned extended Surface, and calculation of
Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient.
2. Fin Efficiency Calculations

***************************************************************************