7-1

Chapter 7
EXTERNAL FORCED CONVECTION

7-28 A fan blows air parallel to the passages between the fins of a heat sink attached to a transformer.
The minimum free-stream velocity that the fan should provide to avoid overheating is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 The critical Reynolds number is Recr = 5105. 3
Radiation effects are negligible. 4 The fins and the base plate are nearly isothermal (fin efficiency is
equal to 1) 5 Air is an ideal gas with constant properties. 6 The local atmospheric pressure is 1 atm.7
The flow is laminar over the entire finned surface of the transformer.
Properties The properties of air at 1 atm and the film temperature of (Ts + T)/2 = (60+25)/2 = 42.5C
are (Table A-15)
k = 0.02681 W/m. C
Air
 = 1.726  10 -5 m 2 /s V
Pr = 0.7248 T = 25C
Ts = 60C
Analysis The total heat transfer surface area for this finned
12 W
surface is
As,finned = (2  7)(0.1 m)(0.005 m) = 0.007 m 2
L = 10
As,unfinned = (0.1 m)(0.062 m) − 7  (0.002 m)(0.1 m) = 0.0048 m 2 cm
As,total = As,finned + As,unfinned = 0.007 m 2 + 0.0048 m 2 = 0.0118 m 2

The convection heat transfer coefficient can be determined

from Newton's law of cooling relation for a finned surface.
Q 12 W
Q = hAs (T − Ts ) ⎯
⎯→ h = = = 29.06 W/m2 .C
As (T − Ts ) (1)(0.0118 m 2 )(60 − 25) C

Starting from heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, Reynolds number and finally free-stream
velocity will be determined. We assume the flow is laminar over the entire finned surface of the
transformer.
hL (29.06 W/m2 .C)(0.1 m)
Nu = = = 108 .4
k 0.02681 W/m.C
Nu 2 (108 .4) 2
Nu = 0.664 Re L 0.5 Pr 1 / 3 ⎯
⎯→ Re L = = = 3.302 10 4
0.664 2 Pr 2 / 3 (0.664 ) 2 (0.7248 ) 2 / 3

VL Re L  (3.302 10 4 )(1.726 10 −5 m 2 /s)

Re L = ⎯
⎯→V = = = 5.70 m/s
 L 0.1 m
 7-2

7-38 A car travels at a velocity of 80 km/h. The rate of heat transfer from the bottom surface of the hot
automotive engine block is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 The critical Reynolds number is Recr = 5105. 3 Air
is an ideal gas with constant properties. 4 The flow is turbulent over the entire surface because of the
constant agitation of the engine block.
Properties The properties of air at 1 atm and the film temperature of (Ts + T)/2 = (100+20)/2 =60C are
(Table A-15)
k = 0.02808 W/m. C
 = 1.896  10 -5 m 2 /s L = 0.8 m
Pr = 0.7202
Engine block
Analysis Air flows parallel to the 0.4 m side. The
Reynolds number in this case is Air
V = 80 km/h Ts = 100C
V L [(80  1000 / 3600 ) m/s](0.8 m)  = 0.95
Re L = = = 9.376  10 5 T = 20C
 1.896  10 −5 m 2 /s

which is greater than the critical Reynolds number and thus the flow is laminar + turbulent. But the flow
is assumed to be turbulent over the entire surface because of the constant agitation of the engine block.
Using the proper relations, the Nusselt number, the heat transfer coefficient, and the heat transfer rate
are determined to be
hL
Nu = = 0.037 Re L 0.8 Pr 1 / 3 = 0.037 (9.376 10 5 ) 0.8 (0.7202 )1 / 3 = 1988
k
k 0.02808 W/m.C
h = Nu = (1988 ) = 69.78 W/m2 .C
L 0.8 m

As = wL = (0.8 m)(0.4 m) = 0.32 m 2

Q conv = hAs (T − Ts ) = (69.78 W/m2 .C)(0.32 m 2 )(100 − 20)C = 1786W

The radiation heat transfer from the same surface is

Q rad = As  (Ts 4 − Tsurr4 )
= (0.95)(0.32 m 2 )(5.67  10 -8 W/m2 .K 4 )[(100 + 273 K) 4 - (25 + 273 K) 4 ]
= 198 W

Then the total rate of heat transfer from that surface becomes
Q total = Q conv + Q rad = (1786 + 198) W = 1984 W
 7-3

7-71 A steam pipe is exposed to windy air. The rate of heat loss from the steam is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Radiation effects are negligible. 3 Air is an ideal gas
with constant properties.
Properties The properties of air at 1 atm and the film temperature of (Ts + T)/2 = (90+7)/2 = 48.5C are
(Table A-15)
k = 0.02724 W/m. C
 = 1.784  10 -5 m 2 /s
Pipe
Pr = 0.7232 Air D = 12 cm
V = 65 km/h Ts = 90C
Analysis The Reynolds number is
T = 7C
VD [(65 km/h)(1000 m/km)/(360 0 s/h)](0.12 m)
Re = = = 1.214  10 5
 1.784  10 −5 m 2 /s

The Nusselt number corresponding to this Reynolds number is

4/5
é ö5/8 ù
hD 0.62Re0.5 Pr1/3 ê æ Re ÷ ú
Nu = = 0.3+ 1+ çç
1/4 ê
÷ ú
k é 2/3 ù ê çè282,000÷ ø ú
ê1+ (0.4 /Pr) ú ë û
ë û
4/5
é ö5/8 ù
0.62(1.214´ 105 )0.5 (0.7232)1/3 ê æ ç1.214´ 105 ÷
÷ ú
= 0.3+ ê1+ çç ÷
÷ ú = 247.5
é 2/3 ù
1/4 ê çè 282,000 ø ÷ ú
ê1+ (0.4 /0.7232) ú êë ú
û
ë û
The heat transfer coefficient and the heat transfer rate become
k 0.02724 W/m.C
h= Nu = (247.5) = 56.18 W/m2 .C
D 0.12 m

As = DL =  (0.12 m)(1 m) = 0.3770 m 2

Q conv = hAs (Ts − T ) = (56.18 W/m2 .C)(0.3770 m 2 )(90 − 7)C = 1758W (per m length)
 7-4

7-76 The wind is blowing across a geothermal water pipe. The average wind velocity is to be
determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Radiation effects are negligible. 3 Air is an ideal gas
with constant properties. 4 The local atmospheric pressure is 1 atm.
Properties The specific heat of water at the average temperature of 75ºC is 4193 J/kg.ºC. The properties
of air at the film temperature of (75+15)/2=45ºC are (Table A-15)
k = 0.02699 W/m. C
Wind
 = 1.75  10 -5 m 2 /s V
Pr = 0.7241 T = 15C

Analysis The rate of heat transfer from the

pipe is the energy change of the water from Water
inlet to exit of the pipe, and it can be
determined from
Q = m
 c p T = (8.5 kg/s)(4193 J/kg.C)(80 − 70)C = 356,400 W

The surface area and the heat transfer coefficient are

A = DL =  (0.15 m)(400 m) = 188.5 m 2

Q 356,400 W
Q = hA(Ts − T ) ⎯
⎯→ h = = = 31.51 W/m2 .C
A(Ts − T ) (188.5 m 2 )(75 − 15)C

The Nusselt number is

hD (31.51 W/m2 .C)(0.15 m)
Nu = = = 175.1
k 0.02699 W/m.C
The Reynolds number may be obtained from the Nusselt number relation by trial-error or using an
equation solver such as EES:
4/5
0.62 Re 0.5 Pr 1 / 3   Re  5 / 8 
Nu = 0.3 + 1 +   
1 + (0.4 / Pr ) 
2 / 3 1/ 4   282,000  
4/5
0.62 Re 0.5 (0.7241)1 / 3   Re  
5/8
175.1 = 0.3 + 1 +   
 ⎯
⎯→ Re = 71,900

1 + (0.4 / 0.7241)2 / 3
1/ 4

  282,000  

The average wind velocity can be determined from Reynolds number relation
VD V (0.15 m)
Re = ⎯
⎯→ 71,900 = ⎯
⎯→ V = 8.39 m/s = 30.2 km/h
 1.75  10 −5 m 2 /s
 7-5

7-88 A cylindrical bottle containing cold water is exposed to windy air. The average wind velocity is to
be estimated.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Radiation effects are negligible. 3 Air is an ideal gas
with constant properties. 4 Heat transfer at the top and bottom surfaces is negligible.
Properties The properties of water at the average temperature of (T1 + T2)/2=(3+11)/2=7C are (Table
A-9)
 = 999 .8 kg/m 3
c p = 4200 J/kg. C

The properties of air at 1 atm and the film temperature of (Ts + T)/2 = (7+27)/2 = 17C are (Table A-
15)
k = 0.02491 W/m. C
 = 1.488  10 -5 m 2 /s
Pr = 0.7317 Air
V Bottle
Analysis The mass of water in the bottle is D =10 cm
T = 27C
L = 30 cm
D2
m = V =  L = (999 .8 kg/m 3 ) (0.10 m) 2 (0.30 m)/4 = 2.356 kg
4
Then the amount of heat transfer to the water is
Q = mc p (T2 − T1 ) = (2.356 kg)(4200 J/kg. C)(11 - 3)C = 79,162 J

The average rate of heat transfer is

Q 79,162 J
Q = = = 29.32 W
t 45  60 s
The heat transfer coefficient is
As = DL =  (0.10 m)(0.30 m) = 0.09425 m 2
Q conv = hAs (T − Ts ) ⎯
⎯→ 29.32 W = h(0.09425 m 2 )(27 − 7)C ⎯
⎯→ h = 15.55 W/m2 .C

The Nusselt number is

hD (15.55 W/m2 .C)(0.10 m)
Nu = = = 62.42
k 0.02491 W/m.C
Reynolds number can be obtained from the Nusselt number relation for a flow over the cylinder
4/5
0.62 Re 0.5 Pr 1 / 3   Re  5 / 8 
Nu = 0.3 + 1 +   
1 + (0.4 / Pr ) 
2 / 3 1/ 4   282,000  
4/5
0.62 Re 0.5 (0.7317 )1 / 3   Re  
5/8
62.42 = 0.3 + 1 +    ⎯
⎯→ Re = 12,856

1 + (0.4 / 0.7317 ) 2 / 3 1/ 4 
  282 ,000  

Then using the Reynolds number relation we determine the wind velocity
VD V (0.10 m)
Re = ⎯
⎯→ 12,856 = ⎯
⎯→ V = 1.91 m/s
 1.488  10 −5 m 2 /s
 7-6

7-95 The average surface temperature of the head of a person when it is not covered and is subjected to
winds is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Radiation effects are negligible. 3 Air is an ideal gas
with constant properties. 4 One-quarter of the heat the person generates is lost from the head. 5 The head
can be approximated as a 30-cm-diameter sphere. 6 The local atmospheric pressure is 1 atm.
Properties We assume the surface temperature to be 15C for viscosity based on the problem statement.
The properties of air at 1 atm pressure and the free stream temperature of 10C are (Table A-15)
k = 0.02439 W/m.C
 = 1.426 10 -5 m 2 /s Air Head
−5
V = 12 km/h Q = 21 W
  = 1.778 10 kg/m.s T = 10C
−5
 s , @ 15C = 1.802 10 kg/m.s
Pr = 0.7336 D =0.3 m

AnalysisThe Reynolds number is

VD éë(12´ 1000/3600)m /sù
û(0.3 m )= 70,126
Re = = - 5 2
n 1.426´ 10 m /s
The proper relation for Nusselt number corresponding to this Reynolds number is

hD æ ö1/4
2/3 ù 0.4 ç m¥ ÷
Nu = é 0.5
= 2 + ê0.4Re + 0.06Re úPr çç ÷
ë û ÷
÷
çè ms ø
k
æ 778´ 10- 5 ÷ö1/4
0.4 ç1.
= 2 + éê0.4(70,126)0.5 + 0.06(70,126)2/3 ù
ú(0.
7336) ç
çç
÷
- 5÷
= 185.1
ë û è1.802´ 10 ÷ ÷
ø

The heat transfer coefficient is

k °
0.02439 W /m .C
h= Nu = (185.1)= 15.05 W /m 2.C
°
D 0.3 m
Then the surface temperature of the head is determined to be
As = p D 2 = p (0.3 m )2 =0.2827 m 2
Q (84/4)W
Q = hAs(Ts - T¥ )¾ ¾® Ts = T¥ + = 10 °C+ = 14.9 °C
hAs (15.05 W /m 2.C)
° (0.2827 m 2 )

Discussion This calculated surface temperature is close to the assumed temperature of 15C making this
a good assumption. Also, the Nusselt number relation for flow over a sphere (Eq. 7-36) is valid for 1.0 
/s  3.2. In this problem, /s = 0.99, which is very close to 1.0.
 7-7

7-96 A light bulb is cooled by a fan. The equilibrium temperature of the glass bulb is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 Air is an ideal gas with constant properties. 3 The
light bulb is in spherical shape. 4 The local atmospheric pressure is 1 atm.
Properties We assume the surface temperature to be 100C for viscosity based on the problem
statement. The properties of air at 1 atm pressure and the free stream temperature of 30C are (Table A-
15)
k = 0.02588 W/m.C
 = 1.608  10 -5 m 2 /s Lamp
Air 100 W
  = 1.872  10 −5 kg/m.s V = 2 m/s
 = 0.9
T = 30C
 s , @100C = 2.181  10 −5 kg/m.s
Pr = 0.7282
Analysis The Reynolds number is
VD (2 m/s)(0.1 m)
Re = = = 1.244  10 4
 1.608 10 −5 m 2 /s

The proper relation for Nusselt number corresponding to this Reynolds number is

 
1/ 4
hD  
Nu = = 2 + 0.4 Re 0.5 + 0.06 Re 2 / 3 Pr 0.4   

k  s 
1/ 4

 (0.7282 ) 0.4  
−5
= 2 + 0.4(1.244  10 ) 4 0.5
+ 0.06(1.244  10 )4 2/3  1.872  10 
 2.181  10 −5 
 
= 67.14
The heat transfer coefficient is
k 0.02588 W/m.C
h= Nu = (67.14) = 17.37 W/m2 .C
D 0.1 m
Noting that 90 % of electrical energy is converted to heat,
Q = (0.90)(100 W) = 90 W

The bulb loses heat by both convection and radiation. The equilibrium temperature of the glass bulb can
be determined by iteration or by an equation solver:
As = D 2 =  (0.1 m) 2 = 0.0314 m 2

Q total = Q conv + Q rad = hAs (Ts − T ) + As  (Ts 4 − Tsurr4 )

90 W = (17.37 W/m2 .C)(0.0314 m 2 )Ts − (30 + 273)K 

+ (0.9)(0.0314 m 2 )(5.67  10 -8 W/m2 .K 4 ) Ts4 − (30 + 273 K ) 4 
Ts = 409 .9 K = 136.9C

Discussion This surface temperature is not close to the assumed surface temperature of 100C. For
better accuracy, we can repeat the calculations using a new viscosity value at 136.9C:
 s @136.9C = 2.332  10 −5 kg/m.s (Table A-15). It gives Ts = 412.6 K = 139.6C. The difference between the
two results is 2.7C. Also, the Nusselt number relation for flow over a sphere (Eq. 7-36) is valid for 1.0
 /s  3.2. In this problem, /s = 0.86, which is less than 1.0. However, it is sufficiently close to 1,
which is appropriate for an engineering heat transfer analysis. Note that the effect of viscosity ratio on
the value of Nusselt number is minor.
 7-8

7-115 Air is cooled by an evaporating refrigerator. The refrigeration capacity and the pressure drop
across the tube bank are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 The surface temperature of the tubes is equal to the
temperature of refrigerant.
Properties The exit temperature of air, and thus the mean temperature, is not known. We evaluate the air
properties at the assumed mean temperature of -5C (will be checked later) and 1 atm (Table A-15):
k = 0.02326 W/mK  = 1.317 kg/m3
cp =1.006 kJ/kgK Pr = 0.7375
 = 1.70510 kg/ms
-5
Prs = Pr@ Ts = -20C = 0.7408
Also, the density of air at the inlet temperature of 0C (for use in the mass flow rate calculation at the
inlet) is i = 1.292 kg/m3.
Analysis It is given that D = 0.008 m, SL = ST =
0.015 m, and V = 5 m/s. Then the maximum Ts=-20C
velocity and the Reynolds number based on the SL
maximum velocity become V=5 m/s
Ti=0C
ST 0.015
Vmax = V= (5 m/s) = 10.71 m/s
ST − D 0.015 − 0.008 ST
Vmax D (1.317 kg/m 3 )(10.71 m/s)(0.008 m)
Re D = = = 6621
 1.705  10 −5 kg/m  s
The average Nusselt number is determined using the
proper relation from Table 7-2 to be
D
Nu D = 0.27 Re 0D.63 Pr 0.36 (Pr/ Prs ) 0.25
= 0.27(6621) 0.63 (0.7375 ) 0.36 (0.7375 / 0.7408 ) 0.25 = 61.72
Since NL > 16. the average Nusselt number and heat transfer
coefficient for all the tubes in the tube bank become
Nu D, N L = FNu D = 61.72

Nu D, N L k 61.72(0.02326 W/m  C)

h= = = 179 .5 W/m 2  C
D 0.008 m
The total number of tubes is N = NL NT = 2515 = 375. The heat transfer surface area and the mass
flow rate of air (evaluated at the inlet) are
As = NDL = 375 (0.008 m)(0.8 m) = 7.540 m 2

m = m i =  iV ( N T S T L) = (1.292 kg/m 3 )(5 m/s)(15)(0 .015 m)(0.8 m) = 1.163 kg/s

Then the fluid exit temperature, the log mean temperature difference, and the rate of heat transfer
(refrigeration capacity) become
 Ah  (7.540 m 2 )(179.5 W/m2  C) 
Te = Ts − (Ts − Ti ) exp  − s  = −20 − (−20 − 0) exp  −  = −13.71C
 m c p   (1.163 kg/s)(1006 J/kg  C) 
   
(Ts − Ti ) − (Ts − Te ) (−20 − 0) − − 20 − (−13.71)
Tlm = = = 11.85C
ln[(Ts − Ti ) /(Ts − Te )] ln[(−20 − 0) /(−20 + 13.71)]
Q = hAs Tlm = (179 .5 W/m 2  C)(7.540 m 2 )(11.85C) = 16,040 W
For this square in-line tube bank, the friction coefficient corresponding to ReD = 6621 and SL/D = 1.5/0.8
= 1.875 is, from Fig. 7-27a, f = 0.28. Also,  = 1 for the square arrangements. Then the pressure drop
across the tube bank becomes
 7-9

Vmax
2
(1.317 kg/m3 )(10.71 m/s)2  1N 
P = N L f = 25(0.28)(1)   = 529 Pa
2 2  1 kg  m/s 2 
 
Discussion The arithmetic mean fluid temperature is (Ti + Te)/2 = (0 -13.7)/2 = -6.9C, which is fairly
close to the assumed value of -5C. Therefore, there is no need to repeat calculations.