ENER/ MECE 411: HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER

LAB TILTLE: FORCED CONVECTION FROM FINNED AND PINNED

PLATES

EPHRAIM: 14001772

THEBE MAITSHOKO: 14001868

OTSILE MAPINI: 14000521`

ABSTRACT
Through experiment and analysis of results gathered, this experiment seeks to investigate
and impart knowledge regarding the relationship between power input and surface
temperature of plates that have different configurations in free convection. The different
plate configurations used were flat plate, pinned plate and finned plate. The discussion holds
concrete information of the results obtained and gives explanation as to why results differ
from the expected ones based on theory studied and considered. The involved experimenters
are mentioned in the cover as the compilers of the report. The correlation noticed for all the
configurations is that temperature increases with time, but the increase in non-linear. It was
found from the experiment conducted that with a constant voltage the temperature ends up
rising in a conductor hence more heat transferred by convection.

INTRODUCTION
The measurement and prediction of heat transfer coefficients for free and forced convection
is archived in the free and forced convection heat exchanger apparatus by studying the
temperature profiles and the heat flux in the air duct using flat and extended transfer
surfaces. The vertical duct is constructed such that the air temperature and velocity can be
easily measured by plugging in a variety of surfaces. In this experiment free convective heat
transfer coefficients were determined for; a flat surface, an array of cylinders and an array of
fins.

THEORY
Convection is the transfer of heat energy into or out of an object by the physical movement
of a surrounding fluid that transfers the heat energy. Although the heat is initially transferred
between the object and the fluid by conduction, the bulk transfer of energy comes from the
motion of the fluid.
FREE CONVECTION
Free convection occurs when fluid motion is caused by buoyancy forces that result from the
density variations whom themselves are due to variations of thermal temperature in the fluid.
In the absence of an internal source, when the fluid is in contact with a hot surface, its
molecules separate and scatter, causing the fluid to be less dense. As a consequence, the fluid
is displaced while the cooler fluid gets denser and the fluid sinks. Thus, the hotter volume
transfers heat towards the cooler volume of that fluid. The convection is by no means due to
a force induced by man to move the fluid. (1)

The heat transfer per unit surface through convection was first described by Newton and the
relation is known as the Newton's Law of Cooling. (2)
The equation for convection can be expressed as:

q = hc A dT

where

q = heat transferred per unit time (W)

A = heat transfer area of the surface (m2)

hc = convective heat transfer coefficient of the process (W/(m2oK)

dT = temperature difference between the surface and the bulk fluid (K)

FORCED CONVECTION
Forced convection occurs when a fluid is forced to flow over the surface by a force such as
that of air blown by a fan, force from stirring, and pumps, creating an artificially induced
convection current.

In forced convection, the fluid is forced to flow over a surface or in a tube by external means
such as using a pump or fan. By applying simple overall energy balance, the heat transfer rate
from a heated surface can be calculated as,

𝑞 = 𝑚̇𝑐𝑝 (𝑇𝑚,𝑒 − 𝑇𝑚,𝑖 )𝑐

where Cp is the specific heat of the fluid [ J / kgK ], Tm is the mean temperature, subscript e
and i stands for exit and inlet, and m& is the mass flow rate [ kg/s] which can be written as
(3),

̇ 𝑚 𝐴𝑐
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑢

where ρ is the density of the fluid [ kg/m3 ], um is the mean velocity of the fluid [ m/s], and
Ac is the cross-sectional area of the flow [ m2 ]. The average heat transfer coefficient of the
system, ℎ̅ [W /m2 K ], can be calculated as,
𝑞
ℎ̅
𝐴∆𝑇𝑙𝑚

where q is the heat transfer rate, A is the area of the heated surface, and ∆Tlm is the log-
mean temperature difference defined as,

𝑇𝑚,0 − 𝑇𝑚,𝑖
∆𝑇𝑙𝑚 =
𝑇 −𝑇
𝑙𝑛 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑚,𝑖
𝑠 𝑚,0
 where Ts is the surface temperature. The heat transfer characteristics of a system strongly
depends on whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. The dimensionless quantities are
Rayleigh number (Ra) (for free convection) and Reynolds number (Re) (for forced convection)
that are used to determine the flow characteristics of the system. If they are smaller than a
critical value, the flow is assumed to be laminar. Else the flow is assumed to be turbulent. The
definitions of Ra and Re together with the critical values are given as follows, (4)

𝑔𝛽(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )𝐿3
𝑅𝑎𝑙 =
𝑣𝛼
𝑢𝑚 𝐿
𝑅𝑒 = 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑟 ≈ 5𝑥105
𝑣
where g is the gravitational acceleration [ m2 /s], β is the volumetric thermal expansion
coefficient (for an ideal gas, β =1/T, T∞ is the ambient temperature, ν is the kinematic
viscosity of the fluid [ m2 /s], α is the thermal diffusivity of the fluid [ m2 /s], and L is the
characteristic length of the flow. The average heat transfer coefficient h can be calculated for
a given geometry by using the correlations given in the literature. In the case of free ̅
convection from a heated vertical surface, the average value of the Nusselt number (𝑁𝑢 ̅̅), ̅
which is a dimensionless number and provides a measure of the convective heat transfer, can
be determined by using the following correlation

ℎ̅𝐿
𝑁𝑢𝐿 ≡ = 𝐶𝑅𝑎𝑙𝑛
𝑘
where k is the thermal conductivity of the fluid. C and n are the correlation coefficients given
as C = 0.59, n=1/4 for laminar flow and C = 0.10, n = 1/3 for turbulent flow case. 3 In the case
of a forced convection from a heated surface, the average Nusselt number can be calculated
as,
̅𝐿
ℎ 1/2
𝑁𝑢𝐿 ≡ = 0.664𝑅𝑒𝑙 𝑃𝑟 1/3
𝑘

ℎ̅𝐿 4/5
𝑁𝑢𝐿 ≡ = 0.037𝑅𝑒𝑙 𝑃𝑟 1/3
𝑘

where Pr is the Prandtl number (Pr = ν /α). (5)

EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVE
To Determine the Temperature Difference Along An Extended Surface.

EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS

 Heat Transfer Service Unit H112

 Figure 1: Heat Transfer Service Unit H112

 Finned plate

Figure 2: Finned Plate Heat Exchanger

 Pinned plate

Figure 3: Pinned Plate Heat Exchanger

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

The following procedure applied to finned, pinned and flat plates.

It was ensured that the instrument console main switch was in the off position and that the
fan was switched off. For the natural convection experiments the fan was not used. The
toggle clamps retaining the plate in the tunnel were opened and the existing plate from the
tunnel removed and replaced with the flat (pinned or finned) plate from the top of the
plates to ensure the flat plate (or pinned or finned) was in position. It was ensured that the
air temperature thermocouple T5, surface temperature thermocouple T1 and additional
thermocouples fitted to the pinned (T2, T3, T4) and finned (T2, T3, T4) plates were
connected to the instrument console. The main switch was switched on and the heater
voltage set to minimum by closing the air throttle. The objective with the transient method
was to apply the same heat input to all three heat exchangers and record the rise in
temperature T1 with time. The input was under 100W and it allowed sufficient time for data
to be collected. The voltage V required for 100W input was V= 100 x R, where R is the
electrical resistance (Ohms) of the heating element. The actual figure was checked by
calculating the resulting measured V Volts) and I (current) to the heater and calculating Q=V
x I. the heater power was increased to a suitable level such that ts (T1) did not exceed
100°C. The temperatures were allowed to stabilise and the starting surface temperature T1,
stream temperature (T9), heater supply voltage V, the air velocity U and the thermocouples
on the extended surfaces (T2, T3, T4) temperatures on both pinned and finned plates were
recorded. The heater voltage was maintained at the same condition and the air velocity
increased by slightly opening the air throttle. Once again the temperatures were allowed to
stabilise and the readings recorded again. Before the heat exchanger was removed from the
duct the fan was turned on to cool the heat exchanger. The cooling procedure was used to
demonstrate to students that the heat transfer coefficient due to forced convection if the
voltage setting is left at the natural convection condition and the fan turned on gives
maximum flow. T1 was seen to rapidly fall from the natural convection condition on the
results recorded
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Flat Plate
Table 1(Flat Plate)

Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6
No.
Heater 107 106 106 107 107 106
Volts (V)
Heater 0.168 0.169 0.169 0.170 0.170 0.170
Current I
(A)
Heater 17.99 17.91 17.91 17.99 18.19 18.02
Power (W)
Ambient 37.7 33.0 32.5 32.2 32.0 30.6
T/C
Flat Plate 89.8 61.3 55.0 52.2 48.3 41.8
surface T/C
Surface – 52.1 28.3 22.5 20.0 16.3 11.2
Ambient
Air temp
difference
T/C
Air velocity 0.0 0.56 0.57 0.7 1.29 5.51

Air velocity vs Flat surface temperature

100
90
Flat surface temperature C

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.56 0.57 0.7 1.29 5.51
Air Velocity m/s

T1 T5

Figure 4(Flat surface)

Finned Surface

Atmospheric Pressure =1 .013 x 105 kNm-2

Table 2(Finned Surface)

Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6
No.

Heater 126 126 126 126 125 125

Volts (V)

Heater 0.204 0.204 0.203 0.203 0.201 0.203

Current I
(A)

Heater 25.70 25.70 25.58 25.58 25.13 25.38

Power (W)

Ambient 40.6 34.9 33.4 33.0 32.2 31.4

Air T5 /C

T1 /C 46.7 46.0 42.0 40.1 37.8 35.6

T2 /C 47.2 46.6 43.0 40.6 38.1 35.8

T3 /C 47.1 46.3 42.6 40.2 37.5 35.4

T4 /C 47.1 46.0 42.5 40.1 37.5 35.2

Air 0.0 0.45 1.01 1.32 2.44 5.45

Velocity
m/s
 Air Velocity vs Fin Temperature
50

45

40

35
Fin Temperature C

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 0.45 1.01 1.32 2.44 5.45
Air velocity m/s
T5 T1 T2 T3 T4

Figure 5(Finned surface)

Pinned surface
Atmospheric Pressure =1 .013 x 105 kNm-2
Table 3(Pinned surface)

Sample 1 2 3 4 5 6
No.

Heater 137 137 137 136 136 136

Volts (V)

Heater 0.217 0.217 0.217 0.215 0.216 0.216

Current I
(A)

Heater 29.73 29.73 29.73 29.24 29.38 29.38

Power (W)

T1 /C 59.9 57.5 49.6 45.6 42.4 39.8

T2 /C 60.6 57.6 50.0 45.8 42.7 40.2

T3 /C 59.9 56.8 48.9 45.1 42.0 39.5

 T4 /C 59.1 55.0 47.3 43.8 41.1 38.7

T5 /C 41.4 35.5 34.0 33.3 32.8 31.8

Air 0.00 0.46 0.82 1.69 2.68 5.71

Velocity
m/s

Air Velocity vs Pin Temperature

70

60

50
Pin Temperature C

40

30

20

10

0
0 0.46 0.82 1.69 2.68 5.71
Air Velocity m/s

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

Calculations

Surface Air Temperature Difference = (ts - ta) K

= 46.0°C – 34.9°C
=11.1°C
= 284.1 in K

For the Pinned plate (Sample No.2) the following data was collected.
Air Velocity = 0.46m/s
Ts (T1) = 57.5 °C
Ta (T5) = 35.5 °C
V = 137V
I = 0.217A
Hence, the heat input 𝑄 = 𝑉 × 𝐼
Q = 137V × 0.217A= 29.72
DSICUSSION
By Newton’s law of cooling, energy used is a function of surface area, temperature
difference and heat transfer coefficient so by comparison to the different graphs for
individual plates, it is evident that the air velocity of them to cool to temperature of 40oC
was different. The finned plate air velocity (1.32m/s) was less than that of a pinned plate
2.68 (m/s) to cool to the target temperature (40oC). This is because heat transfer coefficient
has an inverse relation to the surface area of the heat exchanger and therefore heat
exchangers with more area (pinned) take more time to heat up. As for the finned plate,
dimensions of the fins were not provided hence the transfer coefficient could not be
computed.

It was observed that pinned plate heat exchanger cooled fastest than finned heat
exchanger which suggested that heating and cooling are affected the same way by heat
transfer coefficient- if it takes long time to heat it will also take a long time to cool just as
much as if it takes shot time to heat it will also take less time to cool.

CONCLUSION
With a constant voltage the temperature ends up rising in a conductor hence more heat
transferred by convection.
REFERENCES
1. [Online] [Cited: FEBRUARY 20, 2018.]
http://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=1&brch=194&sim=791&cnt=1.

2. [Online] [Cited: February 21, 2018.]

http://web.mit.edu/16.unified/www/FALL/thermodynamics/notes/node121.html.

3. Themopdia. [Online] [Cited: February 20, 2018.] http://thermopedia.com/content/660/.

4. [Online] [Cited: February 21, 2018.]

http://me.emu.edu.tr/tahir/meng345/meng345Experiment%202.pdf.

5. [Online] [Cited:] http://www.ybu.edu.tr/muhendislik/makina/contents/files/MCE%20403-

natural%20and%20forced%20convection%20deney%20f%C3%83%C2%B6y%C3%83%C2%BC
.pdf.

6. [Online] [Cited: February 21, 2018.] http://www.p-a-hilton.co.uk/products/H112D-

Combined-Convection-and-Radiation.