This document contains a report on

forced convection around a cylindrical

copper rod of diameter 0.0125 m

Forced
Covection
Thermo lab Report

Mohammed Zaid Shaikh – H00114083

 FORCED CONVECTION – THERMO LAB REPORT

INTRODUCTION

This report covers the heat transfer rate from a cylindrical copper rod to the surrounding air moving
at a certain fixed velocity in an isolated system. Besides showing how the heat transfer rate is
affected by varying the velocity of air in the isolated system this experimental lab report also shows
the calculations for Reynolds number, Nusselt number, as well as the film heat transfer coefficient.
Moreover, it covers brief discussion on the comparison of the experimental values of ‘K’ and ‘n’ from
the below equation with that of their literature values.

𝑁𝑢 = 𝐾𝑅𝑒 𝑛
In this experiment the heat transfer rate associated with the cross flow of air across a cylindrical
copper rod at various velocities has been investigated. The aim of the experiment is to determine
the heat transfer characteristics of a cylinder under cross flow forced convection conditions when
the cylinder is isolated. The following equation is used to plot the graph and hence the slope of the
graph was used to calculate the estimated heat transfer coefficient α.

A
ln T  Ta    t  ln T0  Ta 
mC p

This experiment also helps in understanding the complexities in heat transferring during the cross
flow across a cylindrical copper rod. On changing the velocity of the wind, the Reynolds number of
the flow changes which then affects the heat transfer. (Fig. a) below shows a graphical
representation on how increasing the Reynolds number changes the nature of the flow.

Practical and Real Life Applications:

Some of the practical applications of forced convention are:

 Car radiator,
 Cooling towers,
 Air cooled heat exchangers etc.

For example in car radiators the cooling fan used to cool down the heated radiator is an application
of heat transfer due to forced convection. Also when the car is in motion the fast air moving through
the radiator cooling it down is also an example of forced convection in the car radiators. The data
from this report can hence be used as reference when designing a car radiator with copper metal for
ambient temperature of 23°C.

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Fig. a

2
PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS

The following procedures were undertaken for this experiment:

1) The apparatus was checked by the lab supervisor

2) The air duct was switched on

3) The air speed was set to 3 m/s using the knob

4) The copper cylindrical rod was heated up to 97°C in an electric heated

5) The copper rod was then placed inside the air duct through one of the hole

6) The temperature drop was noted after every 5 seconds using a thermometer and stopwatch

7) Steps 3-6 were repeated to take readings at different wind speed

The following apparatus were used for the experiment

 Cross flow heat exchanger (Fig. B)

 Electric heater
 Copper cylindrical rod
 Stop watch

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RESULTS

Given Data:

Ambient Temperature 𝑇𝑎 = 23°𝐶

Surface area of copper cylinder 𝐴 = 0.00404 𝑚2

Mass of copper cylinder 𝑚 = 0.21 𝑘𝑔

Specific heat of copper 𝐶𝑝 = 0.38 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾

Width of working section 𝑏 = 12.5 𝑐𝑚

Height of working section ℎ = 12.5 𝑐𝑚

Diameter of rod 𝑑 = 1.25 𝑐𝑚

Recorded Data:

Temp @ Temp @ Temp @ Temp @ Temp @

Time(s)
v=3m/s(°C) v=5m/s(°C) v=7m/s(°C) v=9m/s(°C) v=11m/s(°C)
0 97.0 97.0 97.0 97.0 97.0
5 97.0 97.0 97.0 96.1 97.0
10 92.7 91.9 95.9 90.9 91.6
15 92.7 88.2 89.1 90.9 91.6
20 88.6 86.8 89.1 83.9 83.5
25 88.6 81.1 81.4 83.9 83.5
30 87.1 81.1 81.4 78.0 78.0
35 87.1 77.3 76.0 78.0 76.9
40 82.0 76.5 76.0 72.9 71.4
45 82.0 73.2 71.5 72.9 71.4
50 79.1 72.3 71.5 68.8 66.8
55 79.1 69.3 67.6 68.8 66.8
60 77.1 68.7 67.6 65.0 62.9
65 77.1 66.0 64.1 65.0 62.9
70 74.2 66.0 64.1 61.6 60.2
75 74.2 63.0 61.1 61.6 60.2
80 72.4 62.5 61.1 58.4 56.7
85 72.4 60.3 58.1 58.4 56.7
90 70.4 60.3 58.1 56.0 54.5
95 70.4 57.4 55.4 56.0 54.5
100 68.3 57.4 55.4 53.0 51.4
105 68.3 55.5 53.6 53.0 51.4
110 66.4 55.5 53.6 51.2 49.7
115 66.4 53.3 51.2 51.2 49.7
120 64.6 53.3 51.2 49.1 47.6

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Calculated Data @ 𝑢 = 3 𝑚/𝑠

Temp T @ Ambient
Time(s) T-Ta (°C) Ln(T-Ta)
v=3m/s(°C) Temp Ta (°C)
0 97.0 23 74 4.304065
5 97.0 23 74 4.304065
10 92.7 23 69.7 4.2442
15 92.7 23 69.7 4.2442
20 88.6 23 65.6 4.183576
25 88.6 23 65.6 4.183576
30 87.1 23 64.1 4.160444
35 87.1 23 62.1 4.128746
40 82.0 23 59.0 4.077537
45 82.0 23 59.0 4.077537
50 79.1 23 56.1 4.027136
55 79.1 23 56.1 4.027136
60 77.1 23 54.1 3.990834
65 77.1 23 54.1 3.990834
70 74.2 23 51.2 3.93574
75 74.2 23 51.2 3.93574
80 72.4 23 49.4 3.89995
85 72.4 23 49.4 3.89995
90 70.4 23 47.4 3.858622
95 70.4 23 47.4 3.858622
100 68.3 23 45.3 3.813307
105 68.3 23 45.3 3.813307
110 66.4 23 43.4 3.770459
115 66.4 23 43.4 3.770459
120 64.6 23 41.6 3.7281

Calculations:

@ 𝒖 = 𝟑 𝒎/𝒔

𝑢 = 3 𝑚/𝑠

𝑢 3
𝑣= = = 3.33
0.9 0.9

µ = 18.3808 𝑃𝑎. 𝑠

𝜌𝑎 = 1.17656 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

𝑑 = 0.0125 𝑚

𝑏 = 0.125 𝑚

ℎ = 0.125 𝑚

𝑘 = 0.0259 𝑊/(𝑚. 𝐾)

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 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 1 × 𝑚 × 𝐶𝑝
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝛼 = −
𝐴
−0.0048 × 0.21 × 380
𝛼3 = −
0.00404

𝛼3 = 94.8 𝑊/(𝑚2 . 𝐾)

Similarly, @ 𝒖 = 𝟓, 𝟕, 𝟗, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟏 heat transfer coefficient is calculated

𝛼5 = 150.12 𝑊/(𝑚2 . 𝐾)

𝛼7 = 167.9 𝑊/(𝑚2 . 𝐾)

𝛼9 = 169.87 𝑊/(𝑚2 . 𝐾)

𝛼11 = 185.67 𝑊/(𝑚2 . 𝐾)

𝛼𝑑
𝑁𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑁𝑢 =
𝑘
94.8 × 0.0125
𝑁𝑢3 = = 46
0.0259

Similarly, @ 𝒖 = 𝟓, 𝟕, 𝟗, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟏 Nusselt number is calculated

𝑁𝑢5 = 73

𝑁𝑢7 = 82

𝑁𝑢9 = 83

𝑁𝑢11 = 90

𝜌𝑎 𝑣 𝑑
𝑅𝑒 =
µ

1.17656 × 3.333 × 0.0125

𝑅𝑒 3 = = 2667
18.3808

Similarly, @ 𝒖 = 𝟓, 𝟕, 𝟗, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟏 Reynolds number is calculated

𝑅𝑒5 = 4445

𝑅𝑒7 = 6315

𝑅𝑒9 = 8119

𝑅𝑒 11 = 9924
𝐶𝑝 × 𝜇
Prandlt Number, 𝑃𝑟 = 𝑘

𝑃𝑟 = 0.27

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Graphical Calculations:

Ln (T-Ta) vs t
5

4.5
ln ()T-Ta

4 ln [T-Ta]
Linear (ln [T-Ta])

y = -0.0048x + 4.2975
3.5

3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time

GRAPH #1

(T-Ta) vs t
80

70

60

50

y = 73.515e-0.005x
T-Ta

40 [T-Ta]
Expon. ([T-Ta])
30

20

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time

GRAPH #2

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 120
Nu vs Re
100 y = 1.5066x0.4462

80
Nusselt number

60 Series1
Power (Series1)
40

20

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000
Reynolds number

GRAPH #3

Values from Graphical Equations:

From Graph #1: Slope = - 0.0048

From Graph #3: 𝑁𝑢 = 𝐾𝑅𝑒 𝑛

Where,

𝐾 = 1.5066, 𝑛 = 0.4462

DISCUSSION

The Correlation literature value for ′𝑘′ and ′𝑛’ for the equation 𝑁𝑢 = 𝐾𝑅𝑒 𝑛 were found as follows:

𝐾 = 1.15

𝑛 = 0.5

Error Analysis for 𝐾 and 𝑛 values:

𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 % = × 100
𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
1.5066 − 1.15
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 % 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐾 = × 100 = 31%
1.15

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 0.4462−0.5
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 % 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 = × 100 = −10.7%
0.5

Using above values of 𝐾 and 𝑛, we find 𝑁𝑢 theoretical

Velocity u (𝑚/𝑠) Reynolds Number (𝑅𝑒) Nusselt Number (𝑁𝑢)

3 2667 59
5 4445 77
7 6315 91
9 8119 103
11 9924 114

Plotting the graph for literature value of 𝑁𝑢 vs. 𝑅𝑒 we get,

Nu vs Re
120
y = 1.1584x0.4988

100

80
Nusselt number

60
Nu
Power (Nu )
40

20

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Reynold number

GRAPH #4

Comparing the graph #3 and graph #4:

According to the graphical power equations the experimental values of ′𝐾′ and ′𝑛′ are fairly
comparable to the literature values. The slight difference may have occurred due to some errors
during the experiment. Some of these errors are discussed below. The graph below shows the
comparison of experimental values against the literature value. The experimental graph line is slight
deviated below the literature value line which shows that the Nusselt number is lower of the
experimental value as compared to that of the literature vales. This deviation is mainly due to the
errors occurred while performing the experiment. But taking into consideration the error % values
the graph shows fairly little deviation.

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 120
y = 1.1584x0.4988
100

80
Nusselt number

Nu literature
y = 0.9828x0.4974
60 Nu
Power (Nu literature)
40 Power (Nu)

20

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Reynolds number

GRAPH #5

Possible errors during the experiment:

 Varying ambient temperature

 Slow digital thermocouple
 Timing calculation while using the stopwatch
 Varying wind speed from the air duct

CONCLUSION

The experimental results were almost as expected. Error % for the calculations was less. This
experiment shows how the heat transfer rate changes under the circumstances of forced
convection. In conclusion to the experimental result the following points can be noted:

1. On increasing the wind speed the copper rod cools faster

2. The thermal coefficient increases with the increase in Reynolds number
3. Copper is a good conductor of heat
4. Convection is an important part of real life applications and can cause serious engineering
problems if not dealt with properly.

REFERENCE

1. Lienhard, J.H, IV & Lienhard, J.H. V, A Heat Transfer Textbook, 4th Ed, Cambridge, MA,
Phlogiston Press, 2011. (A Free Electronic Textbook)
2. Berndt Wischnewski. (2011). Air Calculator. Available:
http://www.peacesoftware.de/einigewerte/calc_luft.php5. Last accessed 20th oct
2013.
3. http://www.egr.msu.edu/~somerton/Nusselt/i/i_a/i_a_3_(ii)/i_a_3_(ii).html

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