Indian Institute of Technology Patna

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME315: HEat & Mass transfEr Lab

Instructor – Dr. Rishi Raj

LAB REPORT - 3

forcEd convEction

Submission Date: 07/07/2021

Submitted By: Pranav Bajaj (1801ME42)
Aim:

To determine the effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient in forced convection for
internal pipe flow.

Introduction:

Convection heat transfer takes place between a solid surface and a surrounded flowing
fluid when the two are at different temperatures. When flow of the fluid is caused by
external means such as pump or fan, the convection is called forced convection. Whereas
if there is no any external means and the motion of the fluid is induced by the buoyancy
force due to temperature gradient, the convection phenomenon is called the natural
convection. Regardless of the particular nature of the convection process, the heat
transfer rate due to convection is calculated from Newton’s law of cooling:

𝑄̇ = ℎ𝐴(𝑇 − 𝑇 )

Where 𝑄̇ is the heat transfer rate (W)

A is the surface area perpendicular to heat transfer (m2)

𝑇 is the temperature of the solid surface (K)

𝑇 is the temperature of the ambient fluid (K)

ℎ is the heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)

The forced convection heat transfer from a solid surface may take place either for external
flow or internal flow. In this experiment, heat transfer coefficient in forced convection is
calculated for internal pipe flow. This type of flow configuration is used for heating and
cooling of fluids in several chemical process and energy conversion technologies.

Theory:

Convection (or convective heat transfer) is the transfer of heat from one place to another
due to the movement of fluid. Although often discussed as a distinct method of heat
transfer, convective heat transfer involves the combined processes of conduction (heat
diffusion) and advection (heat transfer by bulk fluid flow). Convection is usually the
dominant form of heat transfer in liquids and gases.

Two types of convective heat transfer may be distinguished:

 Free or natural convection: when fluid motion is caused by buoyancy forces that
result from the density variations due to variations of 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. Familiar examples are the upward flow of air due to a fire or hot object and
the circulation of water in a pot that is heated from below. As it relies on gravity,
there is no convection in free-fall (inertial) environments, such as that of the
orbiting International Space Station.
  Forced convection: when a fluid is forced to flow over the surface by an internal
source such as fans, by stirring, and pumps, creating an artificially induced
convection current.

Fig 1: (a) Forced Convection (b)Natural Convection

Experimental Setup:

The experiment is performed to calculate the convection heat transfer coefficient for air
flow through a pipe with heated wall.

The apparatus consists of a test pipe fitted with a blower. The external wall of a test pipe is
wrapped with nichrome band heater. The blower is used to blow the air through the pipe.
Six number of thermocouples are embedded in the wall of the pipe to measure the
surface temperatures (𝑇 − 𝑇 ) and two thermocouples are placed at the inlet and outlet of
the test pipe to measure the air inlet (𝑇 ) and outlet (𝑇 ) temperatures. The input power of
the heater is controlled by dimmerstat and power is measured by orifice meter and the
water manometer fitted across the orifice plate.

Fig 2: Schematic of the forced convection setup

Dimmerstat: Dimmerstat is controlling device used in electrical circuits. Generally, they

are resistance coil/induction coil serve as like as a potentiometer/autotransformer
does. Dimmerstat is used to adjust the output potential/voltage to an electrical circuit.
 Fig 3: Dimmerstat

Orifice Meter: An orifice meter is a piece of equipment used to measure the flow rate of a
gas or a fluid. It mainly consists of an orifice plate, an orifice plate housing, and a meter
tube.

The liquid or gas whose flow rate is to be determined is passed through the orifice plate.
This creates a pressure drop across the orifice plate which varies with the flow rate,
resulting in a differential pressure between the outlet and inlet segments. This pressure
drop is measured and is used to calculate the flow rate of the fluid or gas.

Fig 4: Orifice Meter

Specifications Of the Setup:

1 Internal diameter of the pipe section (d) 0.036m

2 Length of the pipe section (L) 0.45 m
3 Diameter of the orifice (d0) 0.014m
4 Discharge coefficient of orifice (Cd) 0.65
5 Type of thermo couple used Chromel-Alumel (K-type)
6 Range of temperature indicator 0-300oC
7 Range of voltmeter 0-300 V
8 Range of ammeter 0-5 A
Procedure:

1) Put on the main switch of the unit to supply power.

2) Start the blower and adjust the air flow rate to the pipe with the valve so that you
get and appreciable difference in manometer level.
3) Start the heater of the test pipe and adjust the input power with the dimmerstat.
4) Note down the heater input power in terms of voltage and current.
5) Note down the readings of all the 8 thermocouples at an interval of 5 minutes until
the steady state id reached.
6) Repeat the experiment for another higher flow rate of air.
7) Make the dimmerstat to zero position and put OFF the main switch.

Observation Table:

Voltage: 73 V

Current: 1.67 A

Height difference in water column: 12cm

T (oC)
Time T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
2:38 PM 57 58 61 56 65 60 27 35
2:45 PM 82 81 119 111 121 109 30 48
2:55 PM 84 125 131 124 135 122 33 54
3:05 PM 87 129 135 129 142 127 35 57
3:15 PM 89 132 138 133 145 131 36 58
3:25 PM 91 135 141 135 147 133 37 59
3:35 PM 92 136 142 136 148 134 37 59
3:45 PM 92 136 142 136 149 135 37 60

Sample Calculations:

@3:45 PM

Bulk mean temperature of air 𝑇 = = = 48.5

Properties of air @ 48.5oC i.e., 321.65 K

Using table A.4 from appendix A of the book Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer,

𝑻 𝝆 𝑪𝒑 𝝁. 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝝑. 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝒌. 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝜶. 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑷𝒓

(𝑲) (𝒌𝒈 𝒎𝟑 )
⁄ (𝒌𝑱⁄𝒌𝒈. 𝑲) (𝑵. 𝒔⁄𝒎𝟐 ) (𝒎𝟐 ⁄𝒔) (𝑾⁄𝒎. 𝑲) (𝒎𝟐 /𝒔)

300 1.1614 1.007 184.6 15.89 26.3 22.5 0.707

321.65 𝜌 𝐶 𝜇 𝜗 𝑘 𝛼 𝑃𝑟
350 0.9950 1.009 208.2 20.92 30 29.9 0.700

Interpolating, we get:
 𝑻 𝝆 𝑪𝒑 𝝁. 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝝑. 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝒌. 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝜶. 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑷𝒓
(𝑲) (𝒌𝒈 𝒎𝟑 )
⁄ (𝒌𝑱⁄𝒌𝒈. 𝑲) (𝑵. 𝒔⁄𝒎𝟐 ) (𝒎𝟐 ⁄𝒔) (𝑾⁄𝒎. 𝑲) (𝒎𝟐 /𝒔)

300 1.1614 1.007 184.6 15.89 26.3 22.5 0.707

321.65 1.089345 1.00787 194.819 18.068 27.0921 25.704 0.704
350 0.9950 1.009 208.2 20.92 30 29.9 0.700

Experimental:
( ⁄ )
Air flow rate 𝑄 = 𝑚 /𝑠

Where 𝑎 = Cross sectional area of the test pipe = 0.00102 m2

𝑎 = Cross sectional area of orifice plate = 0.000154 m2

H = 0.12 m

𝜌 =Density of water at room temperature = 997 kg/m3

𝜌 = Density of air at bulk temperature = 1.089345 kg/m3

Calculating 𝑄 we get,

𝑄 = 0.0047 𝑚 /𝑠
Mass flow rate of air 𝑀 = 𝜌 𝑄 = 0.00512 𝑘𝑔/𝑠

Now,

Amount of heat transfer by air 𝑞 = 𝑀 𝐶 (𝑇 − 𝑇 ) = 0.00512 ∗ 1.00787 ∗ 23 ∗ 10 𝑊

Calculating we get,

𝑞 = 118.687 𝑊

Experimental Heat Transfer Coefficient ℎ = ( )

𝑊/𝑚 𝐾

Where average surface temperature 𝑇 = = 131.667 𝐾

Area=𝐴 = 𝜋𝑑𝐿 = 0.0509 𝑚

118.687
∴ℎ = = 28.0372 𝑊/𝑚 𝐾
0.0509 ∗ (131.667 − 48.5)
Power supplied = Voltage*Current= 73*1.67=121.91 W
.
∴ Effectiveness of the forced convection 𝜂 = .
= 0.9736

Theoretical:

𝑅𝑒 = 𝜌𝑢𝑑/𝜇
1.089345 ∗ 0.0047 ∗ 0.036
∴ 𝑅𝑒 = = 9275.436
0.00102 ∗ 194.819 ∗ 10
Now, 2300 < 𝑅𝑒 < 10,000

The flow is in transition region. Therefore, we cannot use any correlation for fully turbulent
flow. Hence using Gnielinski correlation, which is valid for given 𝑅𝑒 and 𝑃𝑟 and states as:
(𝑓⁄8)(𝑅𝑒 − 1000)𝑃𝑟
𝑁𝑢 =
1 + 12.7(𝑓⁄8) ⁄ ((𝑃𝑟) ⁄ − 1)
Where 𝑓 is the friction factor and can be obtained from Moody diagram or from friction
factor equation for smooth pipes i.e.,

𝑓 = (0.790 ln(𝑅𝑒 ) − 1.64)

For the current data set,

𝑓 = (0.790 ln(9275.436) − 1.64) = 0.03215

(0.03215⁄8)(9275.436 − 1000) ∗ 0.704 23.416
∴ 𝑁𝑢 = = = 28.1434
1 + 12.7(0.03215⁄8) ⁄ ((0.704) ⁄ − 1) 0.832
ℎ 𝑑
∴ = 28.1434
𝑘
28.1434 ∗ 27.0921 ∗ 10
∴ℎ = = 21.814𝑊/𝑚 𝐾
0.036

Error:
ℎ −ℎ 28.0372 − 21.814
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = ∗ 100 = ∗ 100 = 22.2 %
ℎ 28.0372

Results:

T (oC) Experimental Theoretical

Sr
𝒒 𝒉 𝒉 Error
No. 𝑻𝒎 𝑻𝒔 𝜼 𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑵𝒖𝒅
(𝑾) (𝑾⁄𝒎𝟐 𝑲) 𝟐
(𝑾⁄𝒎 𝑲)
1 31 59.5 42.346 29.191 0.3474 9942.8 29.815 22.036 24.51
2 39 103.833 94.197 28.544 0.7727 9631.84 29.04 21.94 23.14
3 43.5 120.167 109.18 27.978 0.8956 9461.69 28.612 21.882 21.79
4 46 124.833 113.96 28.4 0.9348 9368.6 28.378 21.849 23.07
5 47 128 113.79 27.6 0.9334 9331.64 28.285 21.835 20.89
6 48 130.333 113.62 27.112 0.932 9294.84 28.192 21.821 19.52
7 48 131.333 113.62 26.787 0.932 9294.84 28.192 21.821 18.54
8 48.5 131.667 118.7 28.04 0.9737 9276.49 28.145 21.814 22.2
Discussion and Conclusion:

 The friction factor used in Gnielinski equation used in above calculations is valid for
smooth pipe but in our case the pipe must have been rough.
 Also, thermal resistances and corrosion inside the pipe decreases the heat transfer.
 Experimental heat transfer coefficient is larger than theoretical because of there are
many losses in pipe such as losses of heat to the environment, through radiation etc.
 The heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing Reynolds number.

h vs Re
22.1

22.05

22
h (W/m2K)

21.95

21.9

21.85

21.8
9200 9300 9400 9500 9600 9700 9800 9900 10000
Reynolds Number

Fig 5: Graph of Heat transfer coefficient against Reynolds number.

 From the observation table, we also notice that the within the heater region, the
temperature initially increases from 𝑇 to 𝑇 and then falls at 𝑇 and then again rises
at 𝑇 and fall at 𝑇 . This might be due to thermocouple error or the heat losses may
have dominated the temperature rise and hence causing sudden fall in
temperature.

Precautions:

 Keep the dimmer stat at zero position before switching on the power supply.

 Operate the dimmer stat gently and increase the voltage gradually.

 Do not stop the blower during the experimenting period.

 Operate the temperature indicator switch gently.

 Never apply the input voltage beyond 100 Volts to the heater.

References:

 Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer 6th Edition

Calculation Sheet:

Gdrive link