Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics

Mechanical Laboratory
ENME411
Section: 1
Week 3
Experiment No’s: 4
Experiment Title: CROSS FLOW HEAT EXCHNAGER.

Prepared By:
Malik Karjeh, 1172696

Partner’s:
Othman Essam, 1150190
Abdalllah

Date of Performance: 13/04/2023

Date of Submit: 20/04/2023
Abstract:
The experiment involves measuring the change in temperature difference between the airflow
and a copper rod, which is heated to a certain temperature, at different flow rates with time. The
apparatus used in the experiment includes a Perspex working section, Perspex rods inserted into
the working section with their axes at right angles to the direction of flow, a pure copper rod, a
cylindrical electrical heater, a centrifugal fan driven by an electric motor, a throttle valve to
regulate the air velocity, inclined manometers for measurement of pressure drop and velocity
heads, and thermocouples in the copper rod and at the air inlet made of copper for measuring the
temperature difference. The purpose of the experiment is to determine the effect of flow rate and
adding Perspex tubes on the heat convection coefficient. The results of the experiment will
provide valuable information for the design and optimization of heat exchangers, especially
those involving cross-flow. The results of this experiment were satisfactory and it showed the
difference in the heat convection coefficient in two sections, and it obtained the relationship
between the convection coefficient and heat transfer.
Objectives:
1. To determine by experiment the heat convection coefficient of cross flow heat exchanger.
2. To know the factors which affected on the heat convection coefficient.
3. To obtained the different in heat convection coefficient when using the copper rod only,
and when using the copper rod with Perspex rods.

Calculations:
All data to be substituted here are from Run 3 (Throttle opening 60%).
Part A (Without Perspex Rods):
The effective length of copper rod:
Le =l+0.0084 (1)

Where:
l : The length of copper heated element in m.
Le =0.1+0.0084=0.1084 m

The velocity of air flowing calculated as following:

V =237.3
√ H1T ∞
Pa
(2)

Where:
H 1: The upstream velocity head, in cm H 2 O .

T ∞: absolute temperature.

Pa: atmospheric pressure, 101.1 N /m2.

V =237.3
√ 1.5∗15
101.1∗103
The Reynolds number can be founded as following:
=3.54 m/s

Vd
ℜ= (3)
v
Where:
d : Heated element diameter, 12.5 mm.
v : The kinematic viscosity of air, 15.89∗10−6 m2 /s .
 −3
3.54∗12.5∗10
ℜ= −6
=2784.898
15.89∗10
Since 2784.898<5∗105, so the flow is laminar.
The Prandtl number:
Cp μ
Pr= (4 )
K
Where:
C p: The specific heat of air, 1007 J / Kg . K
μ: The dynamic viscosity of air, 18.46∗10−6 Kg . m/ s.
K : The thermal conductivity of air, 401 W /m. ℃

−6
1007∗18.46∗10
Pr= =0.707
401
To calculate the log-mean temperature:

∆ T lm=ln
[ T −T ∞
T0 ]
(5)

Where:
T : The temperature of the heated element.
T 0: The inlet temperature.

At time 20 sec:

|[
∆ T lm= ln
45−2 5
58
=1.06
]|
The heat convection coefficient calculated by;
h=mρC L s (6)

Where:

m : The slop of plotting ∆ T lm vs. time, m=0.031.

ρ : The air density.

C : The specific heat of air.
Ls : The characteristic length.
2
h=333.173 W /m ℃
To check the lumped capacity system analysis, it should be calculating the Biot number as
following:
h Ls
Bi= (7)
K
333.173∗0.003125
Bi= =0.00259
401
Since 0.00259< 0.1, so the lumped capacity method is valid.
And for Nusselt number:
Nu=0.24 ¿
0.6
Nu=0.24 (2784.898) =28

Finally, the transient heat flow calculated as following:

Q=hA ( T −T ∞ ) ( 9)

Q=333.173∗0.00425∗( 45−2 5 )=28.3 W

Part B (With Perspex Rods):

Also, at throttle 60%.
The effective length of copper rod:
Le =l+0.0084

Where:
l : The length of copper heated element in m.
Le =0.1+0.0084=0.1084 m

The velocity of air flowing calculated as following:

V =237.3
√ H1T ∞
Pa

Where:
H 1: The upstream velocity head, in cm H 2 O .

T ∞: absolute temperature.

Pa: atmospheric pressure, 101.1 N /m2.

 V =237.3
√ 0.8∗15
101.1∗103
The Reynolds number can be founded as following:
=2.58 m/ s

Vd
ℜ=
v
Where:
d : Heated element diameter, 12.5 mm.
v : The kinematic viscosity of air, 15.89∗10−6 m2 /s .

−3
2.58∗12.5∗10
ℜ= −6
=2 033.756
15.89∗10
Since 2 033.756<5∗105, so the flow is laminar.
The Prandtl number:
Cp μ
Pr=
K
Where:
C p: The specific heat of air, 1007 J / Kg . K
μ: The dynamic viscosity of air, 18.46∗10−6 Kg . m/ s.
K : The thermal conductivity of air, 401 W /m. ℃

−6
1007∗18.46∗10
Pr= =0.707
401
To calculate the log-mean temperature:

∆ T lm=ln
[ T −T ∞
T0 ]
Where:
T : The temperature of the heated element.
T 0: The inlet temperature.

At time 20 sec:

|[
∆ T lm= ln
45−2 5
58
=1.065
]|
The heat convection coefficient calculated by;
h=mρC L s
Where:

m : The slop of plotting ∆ T lm vs. time, m=0.0342.

ρ : The air density.

C : The specific heat of air.

Ls : The characteristic length.
2
h=367.5 6 W /m ℃

To check the lumped capacity system analysis, it should be calculating the Biot number as
following:
h Ls
Bi=
K
367.5 6∗0.003125
Bi= =0.002 8
401
Since 0.002 8<0.1 , so the lumped capacity method is valid.
And for Nusselt number:
Nu=0. 3 ¿
0.6
Nu=0. 3(2 033.756) =23.184

The transient heat flow calculated as following:

Q=hA ( T −T ∞ )

Q=367.5 6∗0.00425∗( 45−15 ) =4 6.86 W

 Results:
Part A (Without Perspex Rods):
Table (1): Log mean temperature values.

Throttle Opening
Throttle Opening 100% Throttle Opening 80% Throttle Opening 60% Throttle Opening 40%
20%
Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate
(mmH2O) = 23 (mmH2O) = 22.8 (mmH2O) = 15.5 (mmH2O) = 7 (mmH2O) = 2
Time
Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp
(s)
0 0.00 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.56
10 0.69 0.69 0.59 0.59 0.59
20 1.35 0.97 1.06 0.84 0.76
30 1.76 1.35 1.50 1.06 0.84
40 2.45 1.76 1.98 1.35 1.06
50 4.06 2.96 2.96 1.98 1.35
60 3.37 4.06 4.06 2.45 1.50
70 2.11 2.67 2.67 2.96 1.98
80 1.86 2.11 2.11 4.06 2.45
90 1.35 1.86 1.86 2.67 2.96
100 1.35 1.58 2.11 4.06
110 1.35 1.86 3.37
120 1.58 2.67
130 1.35 2.11
140 1.86
150 1.86
160 1.86
170 1.58
180 1.58
190 1.58
200 1.35
 Table (2): Air velocity.

Throttle % Velocity (m/s)

100% 4.29
80% 4.20
60% 3.54
405 2.62
20% 1.83

Table (3): Reynolds Number values.

Throttle % Reynolds Number
100% 3372.60
80% 3302.90
60% 2784.84
405 2059.02
20% 1438.08

Table (4): Heat Convection Coefficient Values.

Convection Coefficient
Throttle % 2
W /m ℃
100% 399.8
80% 351.4
60% 333.2
405 279.4
20% 208.5
 Table (5):The values of Nusselt Number .
Throttle % Nusselt Number
100% 31.404
80% 31.013
60% 27.996
405 23.356
20% 18.831

Table (6): The values of Biot number.

Throttle % Biot Number
100% 0.003116
80% 0.002739
60% 0.002596
405 0.002178
20% 0.001625

Table (7):The values of Slope for log mean Temperature curves.

Throttle % Slope of Log mean curve
100% 0.0372
80% 0.0327
60% 0.031
405 0.026
20% 0.0194
 Table (8): The transient heat flow values.

Throttle Opening
Throttle Opening 100% Throttle Opening 80% Throttle Opening 60% Throttle Opening 40%
20%

Time
Q (W) Q (W) Q (W) Q (W) Q (W)
(s)
0 56.07 49.29 46.73 39.19 29.24
10 49.28 43.32 45.31 38.00 28.36
20 25.49 32.86 28.32 29.69 23.93
30 16.99 22.40 18.41 23.75 22.15
40 8.50 14.94 11.33 17.81 17.72
50 1.70 4.48 4.25 9.50 13.29
60 -3.40 1.49 1.42 5.94 11.52
70 -11.89 -5.97 -5.66 3.56 7.09
80 -15.29 -10.46 -9.91 1.19 4.43
90 -25.49 -13.44 -12.74 -4.75 2.66
100 -22.40 -16.99 -8.31 0.89
110 -21.24 -10.69 -1.77
120 -14.25 -3.54
130 -17.81 -6.20
140 -7.98
150 -7.98
160 -7.98
170 -10.63
180 -10.63
190 -10.63
200 -13.29
 f(x) = NaN x + NaN
Log Mean Temp VS Time @ 80% Throttle Opening for Case 1
12.0000

10.0000
Log Mean Temp (C)

8.0000

6.0000

4.0000

2.0000

0.0000
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Time (s)

Figure 1: The Relationship Between the Log Mean Temperature and Time for 80% Opening Throttle.

Part B (With Perspex Rods):

Table (9): Air velocity.

Throttle % Velocity (m/s)

100% 2.95
80% 2.82
60% 2.59
405 2.24
20% 1.58

Table (10): Reynolds Number values.

Throttle % Reynolds Number
100% 2318.84

80% 3302.90
60% 2216.23

405 2059.02
20% 2033.76
 Table (11): Heat Convection Coefficient Values.
Convection Coefficient
Throttle % 2
W /m ℃
100% 425.60
80% 351.4
60% 412.70
405 279.4
20% 367.57

Table (13): Log mean temperature values.

Throttle Opening
Throttle Opening 100% Throttle Opening 80% Throttle Opening 60% Throttle Opening 40%
20%
Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate Air Flow Rate
(mmH2O) = 23 (mmH2O) = 22.8 (mmH2O) = 15.5 (mmH2O) = 7 (mmH2O) = 2
Time
Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp Log Mean Temp
(s)
0 0.992 0.564 0.564 0.564 0.564
10 0.842 0.693 0.693 0.765 0.765
20 1.352 1.065 1.065 1.227 1.065
30 1.981 1.758 1.758 1.758 1.352
40 4.060 2.962 2.451 2.451 1.981
50 2.674 3.367 3.367 4.060 2.962
60 1.863 2.115 2.674 3.367 4.060
70 1.576 1.863 1.863 2.674 2.674
80 1.352 1.576 1.576 2.115 2.115
90 1.352 1.576 1.863 1.863
100 1.352 1.576 1.576
110 1.352 1.576
120 1.352
 Table (13):The values of Nusselt Number .
Throttle % Nusselt Number
100% 25.08
80% 31.013
60% 24.41
405 23.356
20% 23.18

Table (14): The values of Biot number.

Throttle % Biot Number Valid or not
100% 0.003317 Valid
80% 0.002739 Valid

60% 0.003216 Valid

405 0.002178 Valid

20% 0.002864 Valid

Table (15):The values of Slope for log mean Temperature curves.

Throttle % Slope of Log mean curve
100% 0.0396
80% 0.0327
60% 0.0384
405 0.026
20% 0.0342
 Table (16): The transient heat flow values.

Throttle Opening
Throttle Opening 100% Throttle Opening 80% Throttle Opening 60% Throttle Opening 40%
20%

Time
Q (W) Q (W) Q (W) Q (W) Q (W)
(s)
0 59.691 57.882 51.551 45.069 43.411
10 45.220 50.866 45.302 36.875 35.518
20 27.132 35.080 31.243 23.218 26.310
30 14.470 17.540 15.622 13.657 19.732
40 1.809 5.262 7.811 6.829 10.524
50 -7.235 -3.508 -3.124 1.366 3.946
60 -16.279 -12.278 -6.249 -2.731 1.315
70 -21.706 -15.786 -14.059 -5.463 -5.262
80 -27.132 -21.048 -18.746 -9.560 -9.208
90 -26.310 -18.746 -12.292 -11.839
100 -23.432 -16.389 -15.786
110 -20.486 -15.786
120 -19.732

f(x) = NaN x + NaN

Log Mean Temp VS Time @ 80% Throttle Opening for Case 2
12.0000

10.0000
Log Mean Temp (C)

8.0000

6.0000

4.0000

2.0000

0.0000
0 50 100 150 200 250
Time (s)

Figure 2: The Relationship Between the Log Mean Temperature and Time for 80% Opening Throttle.
 Nusselt Number VS Reynold's Number
33.000 30

31.000
25
29.000

27.000 20
Nusselt Number

25.000
15
23.000

21.000 10

19.000
5
17.000

15.000 0
1000.000 1500.000 2000.000 2500.000 3000.000 3500.000

Reynold's Number
with out perspex rod with perspex rod

Figure 3: The Relationship Between Reynolds Number and Nusselt Number for Both Cases.

80.0000 Transient Heat Transfer VS Time @ 80% Throttle Opening

60.0000

40.0000
Transient Heat Transfer (W)

20.0000

0.0000
0 50 100 150 200 250

-20.0000

-40.0000
Time (s) with out perspex with perspex

Figure 4: The Relationship Between the Transient Heat Transfer and Time for 80% Throttle Opening in Both Cases.
Discussion of Results:
This experiment was done in two parts, the first one without Perspex rods, and the other one
with them. The air velocity in the first part was higher than it was in the second part because the
Perspex rods hider the airflow, in addition to the velocity have a direct proportional ship with the
opening throttle, which means that when the throttle opens increased the velocity increases too.
For the Reynolds Number, we can see that the values of it in the first section are higher than it in
the second section, where the velocity of air affected it directly where it increased when the
velocity increased too, and in both sections, the flow was laminar based on Reynolds Number.
For figures (1) & (2) which obtained the relationship between the log mean temperature with
time, it can be clear to see that both curves have approximated the same behavior with a little
increase in part two. And this difference in slope values in both parts makes the heat convection
coefficient in the second part higher than it in the first part based on equation (6).
In Fig (3), it presents the relationship between the Reynolds number and with Nusselt number
for both sections, we can see that the relationship among them is directly proportional and each
one of them increased with the increase of the other. But the values of the Nusselt number in
part one is larger than those in the second one the relationship between the Nusselt number and
hd
the convection coefficient is an inverse relationship as clear by this equation:( Nu= ).
K
Fig (5) shows the relationship between the transient heat transfer at throttle opening 80% with
the time for both cases. The graph indicates that the heat transfer was higher at the beginning and
decreased with time. In general, the heat transfer depends on the convection coefficient. In
addition, we noticed that in the second part the time it takes the heated elements to reach the
surrounding temperature than in the first part.
Based on the results of the Biot number for both sections it was always less than 0.1 therefore
the lumped heat capacity method is valid in both sections.
Conclusion:
This experiment was performed to understand and realize the principle of the heat convection
coefficient and to know the factors which affect it. The experiment included two main parts, one
with Perspex rods and the other without them, these Perspex was used to show how the
convection coefficient was affected by them or any different geometry when fixed in an air
stream around the hot copper rod. Some parameters were measured and calculated, like the flow
rate of air and its temperatures, also to Reynolds number and Nusselt number, down to transient
heat transfer.
During experimentally, some errors happened and it made some effective on our results such as
when the readings of the thermocouples were recorded because the multimeter used was turned
off suddenly during working.
References:
 Manual lab, Mechanical lab ENME 411.
APPENDEX:
DATA SHEET: