CONVECTION

Convection is the mode of energy transfer between a solid surface and the adjacent fluid in motion. If
there is no motion of the fluid, the heat transfer is pure conduction.

Convection involves the combined effect of conduction and fluid motion.

The faster the fluid motion, the greater the convection heat transfer.

Types of convection

Forced convection, if the fluid is forced to flow over the surface by external means such as a fan, a
blower, a pump, or the wind.

Free or Natural Convection, if the fluid motion is caused by the buoyancy forces that are induced by
density differences due to the variation of temperature of the fluid. The temperature difference
between the solid surface and the fluid should be large enough to overcome the resistance of air to
movement and thus to initiate natural convection currents.

Heat transfer processes that involve change of phase of a fluid are also considered to be convection
because of the fluid motion induced during the process, such as

- the rise of the vapor bubbles during boiling or evaporation or

- the fall of the liquid droplets during condensation.

For a steady state unidirectional flow of heat by convection, the rate of heat transfer is given by
=

where Q is the heat transmitted, in watts

A is the area perpendicular to the heat flow, in m2
h is the convection heat transfer coefficient, in W/m2-K
is the difference in solid surface temperature and

fluid temperature far from the surface, in K

Typical values of convection heat transfer coefficient in W/m2-K

Free convection of gases 2-25

Free convection of liquids 10-1,000

Forced convection of gases 25-250

Forced convection of liquids 50-20,000

Boiling and condensation 2,500-100,000

Note: to convert to btu/hr-ft2-F multiply the above values by 0.176

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. A 5cm external diameter, 10m long hot water pipe at 80C is losing heat to the surrounding air at 5C
by natural convection with a heat transfer coefficient of 25W/m2-K. Determine the rate of heat loss
from the pipe by natural convection, in watts.

Solution:

diameter, d = 5cm = 0.05m

change in temperature, t = 80 5 = 75K

lateral surface area, A = dL = (0.05) (10) = 0.5 m2

heat rate, q = h A t = 25 (0.5) (75) 2,945W

2. Hot air at 80C is blown over a 2m x 4m flat surface at 30C. If the average convection heat transfer
coefficient is 55 W/m2-K, determine the rate of heat transfer from the air to the plate, in kilowatts.

Solution:

change in temperature, t = 80 30 = 50K

flat surface area, A = LW = 2 (4) = 8m2

heat rate, q = h A t = 55 (8) (50) = 22,000W = 22KW

3. For heat transfer purposes, a standing man can be modelled as a 30cm diameter, 170cm long vertical
cylinder with both the top and bottom surfaces insulated and with the side surface at an average
temperature of 34C. For convection heat transfer coefficient of 15 W/m2 -K, determine the rate of heat
loss from this man by convection in an environment at 20C.

Solution:

diameter, d = 30cm = 0.30m

length, L = 170cm = 1.70m t = 34 20 = 14K

lateral surface area, A = dL = (0.30) (1.7) = 0.51m2

heat rate, q = h A t = 15 (0.51) (14) 336W

4. A 50cm long, 800W electric resistance heating element with diameter 0.5 cm and surface
temperature 120C is immersed in 40kg of water initially at 20C.

a. Determine how long (hr) it will take for this heater to raise the water temperature to 80C.

b. Determine the mean convection heat transfer coefficient, in W/m2 -K.

Solution:

length, L = 50cm = 0.5m

heat rate, q = 800W = 800 joules/sec

diameter, d = 0.5cm = 0.005m

increase in water temperature, t = 80 20 = 60C

specific heat, c = 1 kcal/kg-K

total heat, Q = m c t = 40 (1) (60) = 2,400 kcal = 2,400,000 cal x 4.187 J/cal

= 10,048,800 joules

time, t = Q/q = 10,048,800 / 800 = 12,561 seconds 3.5 hr

lateral surface area, 1 = dL = (0.005) (0.5) = 0.0025 m2

tip area, 2 = (/4) d2 = ( /4) (0.005)2 = 6.25 x 10-6 m2

total heating surface area, = 0.0025 + 6.25 x 10-6 = 0.007873616588 m2

initial temperature difference, 1 = 120 20 = 100C

initial convection coefficient, 1 = q / (1) = 800 / [(0.007873616588) (100)]

=1,016.051507 W/m-K

final temperature difference, 2 = 120 80 = 40C

final convection coefficient, 2 = q / (2) = 800 / [(0.007873616588) (40)]

= 2,540.128768 W/m2-K

mean convection coefficient, = (1 + 2 )/2 = 1,778.090137 1,778 W/m2 -K