MECH4411 Heat Transfer

Part 2 – Convective heat transfer

Lecture Note 4
Empirical relations for forced-convection in tube flows

1
Objectives
1. Order-of-magnitude analysis

2. Empirical relations for pipe and tube flows

3. Relations for turbulent heat transfer in smooth and rough tubes

4. Relations for laminar heat transfer in smooth and rough tubes

5. Relations for heat transfer in entrance region

2
Order of magnitude analysis
It is not always possible to obtain analytical solutions to convection problems, and experimental methods are
used instead. For design and engineering purposes, empirical relations are obtained from experimental methods.

We first consider the boundary layer equation with constant pressure:

∂u ∂v
+ =0
∂x ∂y
∂u ∂u ∂2u
u +v =υ 2
∂x ∂y ∂y

Within the boundary layer, we have u ~ u∞ and y ~ δ. Therefore,

∂u ∂v u∞ v u∞δ
+ =0→ + ≈0→v~
∂x ∂y x δ x
∂u ∂u ∂2u u∞ u∞δ u∞ u∞ vx δ v 1
u + v = υ 2 → u∞ + ≈υ 2 →δ ~ → ~
2 =
∂x ∂y ∂y x x δ δ u∞ x u∞x Rex
δ C
This functional variation of δ with Rex is precisely what we obtained before. One can assume = and
x Rex
obtain C by fitting with experimental data.

Relations obtained in such a way are referred as empirical relations. Similarly, we can have Nux = C Rem Prn ,
where C, m, n are constants to be determined from the experimental data. 3
Empirical relations by experimental data
Assume Nu! = C Re"
! Pr
#

log Nu! versus log Re! is made for one fluid to estimate
the dependence of the heat transfer on the Reynolds
number → estimate m

At a constant temperature, the Prandtl number will be

approximately constant for the one fluid. The data for all
fluids are plotted as log(Nu! /Re"
! ) vs log Pr → estimate n

All the data are plotted again as log (Nu! /Pr# ) versus log Re!
→ estimate C

The final correlation equation represents the data within ±25%

Nu! = 0.023Re$.&
! Pr
$.'

4
Heat transfer in a tube flow
For a tube flow, the total energy added can be expressed of a bulk temperature difference by
̇ p T)! − T)"
q = mc
provided 𝑐( is reasonably constant over the length. In a differential length 𝑑𝑥, the heat added is given by
̇ pdTb = h 2πr dx Tw − Tb
dq = mc
where Tw and Tb are the wall and bulk temperatures at the particular x location. The total heat transfer is
q = hA Tw − Tb av

where A = 2prL is the total surface area for heat transfer. Because both Tw and Tb can vary along the length of
the tube, hence a suitable averaging process should be adopted. We assume that
T)" + T)!
Tw − Tb av = Tw −
2

𝑚̇ r dq
Tw

T)" T)!
dx 5
Relations for turbulent heat transfer in smooth tubes
Dittus and Boelter formula:
hd
Nu! = 0.023Re$.& #
! Pr for Pr = 0.6 ~ 100 and moderate Tw − Tb Nud =
k
0.4 for heating of the fluid
n =*
0.3 for cooling of the fluid

Gnielinski formula:
Nu! = 0.0214 Re$.&
! − 100 Pr
$.' for 0.5 < Pr < 1.5 and 104 < Re < 5 × 106

Nu! = 0.012 Re$.&*

! − 280 Pr$.' for 1.5 < Pr < 500 and 3000 < Re < 106

Sieder and Tate formula:

μ $.+'
Nu! = 0.027Re$.&
! Pr+/-
μw
where all properties are evaluated at the bulk temperature Tb,
except μw at wall temperature.

The Sieder and Tate formula is used when there is a wide temperature difference in the flow, where change in
the fluid properties between the wall of the tube and the central flow is obvious.

6
Relations for turbulent heat transfer in rough tubes
For a rough tube (fluid-friction analgoy):
1/
//- f ε 5.74 12
ε
St) Pr. = where f = 1.325 ln + $.0 for 10 < < 101- and 5000 < Re! < 10 &
8 3.7d Re! d

Petukhov formula (25% more accurate): Nu

St =
Pr Re
f /8 Re! Pr μ𝑏 # 0.11 for Tw > Tb
Nu! = where n = 30.25 for Tw < Tb
1.07 + 12.7 f /8 +// Pr//- − 1 μw
0 for constant heat flux or for gases
1
where all properties are evaluated at Tf = Tw + Tb except μw and μb.
2
1/
The friction factor f can be obtained from the Moody diagram or f = 1.82log+$ Re! − 1.64 for smooth tubes

It is applicable for the following ranges:

for 0.5 < Pr < 200 for 6% accuracy or for 0.5 < Pr < 2000 for 10% accuracy
104 < Re < 5 × 106
μ𝑏
0.8 < < 40
μw 7
Moody diagram

8
Fully developed laminar flow
Hausen formula for fully developed laminar flow in a tube at constant wall temperature:
0.0668 d /L Re! Pr
Nu! = 3.66 +
1 + 0.04 d /L Re! Pr //-

The heat transfer coefficient calculated is the average value over the entire length of the tube.
Nu! approaches a constant value of 3.66 when the tube is sufficiently long.

Sieder and Tate formula for laminar flows in tubes:

+/- $.+'
+/-
d μ d
Nu! =1.86 Re! Pr for Re! Pr > 10
L μw L

The average heat transfer coefficient is based on the arithmetic average of the inlet and outlet temperature
differences, and all fluid properties are evaluated at the mean bulk temperature Tb of the fluid, except
μw which is evaluated at the wall temperature.

9
Hydraulic diameter
If the channel through which the fluid flows is not of circular cross
section, it is recommended that the laminar heat-transfer
correlations be based on the hydraulic diameter DH, defined by
4A
DH =
P
where A is the cross-sectional area of the flow and P is the
wetted perimeter.

NuH = average Nusselt number for uniform heat flux in flow

direction and uniform wall temperature at particular flow
cross section

NuT = average Nusselt number for uniform wall temperature

f Re3# /4 = product of friction factor and Reynolds number based

on hydraulic diameter

10
Heat transfer at the entrance region
The Nusselt formula considers the entrance region where the flow is not developed,
$.$44
d
Nu! = 0.036Re$.& ! Pr
+/-
L
where L is the length of the tube and d is the tube diameter. Properties are evaluated at the bulk temperature Tb.

Local and average Nud for circular tube thermal Turbulent thermal entry Nud for circular 11
entrance regions in fully developed laminar flow. tubes with qw = constant.
Example 1: Turbulent heat transfer in a tube
Air at 2 atm and 200°C is heated as it flows through a tube with a diameter of 1 in (2.54 cm) at a velocity of 10
m/s. Calculate the heat transfer per unit length of tube if a constant-heat-flux condition is maintained at the
wall and the wall temperature is 20°C above the air temperature, all along the length of the tube. How much
would the bulk temperature increase over a 3-m length of the tube?
Solution: 2.54cm Constant heat flux
The properties of air at a bulk temperature of 200°C are
Tw = 20 °C+ Tb
p (2)(1.0132 × 105)
ρ= = = 1.493 kg/m3
RT (287)(473) 2 atm. Tb = 200°C, 10 m/s
From table A-5 (using linear interpolation):
μ = 2.57 × 10 14 kg/m 5 s k = 0.0386 W/m 5 °C cp = 1.025 kJ/kg 5 °C Pr = 0.682
ρumd (1.493)(10)(0.0254)
Red = = = 14756 > 2000
μ 2.57 × 10 14
So the flow is turbulent. We use the Dittus and Boelter formula for turbulent flow:
hd
Nud = = 0.023Re$.&
! Pr
$.' = 0.023 14756 $.& (0.682) $.' = 42.70
k
d (0.0386)(42.7)
h= Nud = = 64.89 W/m 5 °C
k 0.0254
12
Example 1: Turbulent heat transfer in a tube
The heat flow per unit length is then
q
= hπd Tw − Tb = (64.89)π(0.0254)(20) = 103.56 W/m
L
We can now make an energy balance to calculate the increase in bulk temperature:
q
q = mċ p∆T) = L
L
We also have
πd/ (0.0254) /
ṁ = ρum = (1.493)(10)π = 7.565 ×10−3 kg/s
4 4
Therefore,
(7.565 ×10−3)(1025) ∆T) = (3.0)(103.56)
∆T) = 40.07 °C

13
Example 2: Heating of water in laminar tube flow
Water at 60°C enters a tube of 1-in (2.54-cm) diameter at a mean flow velocity of 2 cm/s. Calculate the exit
water temperature if the tube is 3.0 m long and the wall temperature is constant at 80°C.
Solution:
We first evaluate the Reynolds number at the inlet bulk temperature to determine the flow regime. From table A-
9, the properties of water at 60°C are
ρ = 985 kg/m3 μ = 4.71 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s k = 0.0651 W/m 5 °C cp = 4.18 kJ/kg 5 °C Pr = 3.02
ρumd (985)(0.02)(0.0254)
Red = = = 1062 < 2000
μ 4.71 × 10 1'
So the flow is laminar. Also, we have
d (1062)(3.02)(0.0254)
RedPr = = 27.15 > 10
L 3
We do not know the mean bulk temperature to evaluate properties so we first make the calculation based on
60°C, determine an exit bulk temperature, and then make a second iteration to obtain a more precise value.
When inlet and outlet conditions are designated with the subscripts 1 and 2, the energy balance becomes:
T) + T)!
q = hπdL Tw − " ̇ p T)! − T)"
= mc
2
14
Example 2: Heating of water in laminar tube flow
At the wall temperature of 80°C, we have: μw = 3.55 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s

We apply the Sieder and Tate formula for laminar flows:

+/- $.+' $.+'
+/-
d μ +/-
4.71
Nu! =1.86 Re! Pr = 1.86 27.15 = 5.816
L μw 3.55
kNu! (0.651)(5.816)
h= = = 149.1 W/m2 5 °C
d 0.0254
The mass flow rate is
πd/ (985)(0.02)π(0.0254) /
ṁ = ρu" = = 9.982 × 10 1- kg/s
4 4
Therefore, we have
T)" + T)!
hπdL Tw − ̇ p T)! − T)"
= mc
2
60 + T)!
(149.1)π(0.0254)(3.0) 80 − = (9.982 × 10 1- )(4180) T)! − 60
2
T)! = 71.98°C

15
Example 2: Heating of water in laminar tube flow
We should go back and evaluate properties at
71.98 + 60
Tb,mean = = 66°C
2
We perform an iteration based on the new Tb
ρ = 982 kg/m3 μ = 4.36 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s k = 0.0656 W/m 5 °C cp = 4185 J/kg 5 °C Pr = 2.78
ρumd (982)(0.02)(0.0254) d (1147)(2.78)(0.0254)
Red = = = 1144 < 2000 RedPr = = 27 > 10
μ 4.36 × 10 1' L 3
+/- $.+' $.+'
+/-
d μ 4.36
Nu! =1.86 Re! Pr = 1.86(27)+/- = 5.743
L μw 3.55
kNu! (0.0656)(5.743) πd/ (982)(0.02)π(0.0254) /
h= = = 148.3 W/m2 5 °C ṁ = ρu" = = 9.995 × 10 1- kg/s
d 0.0254 4 4
T +T
hπdL Tw − b1 b2 = mc ̇ p T)! − T)"
2
66 + Tb2
(148.3)π(0.0254)(3.0) 80 − = (9.995 × 10 1- )(4185) Tb2 − 66
2
T)! = 71.92°C
16
Example 3: Heating of air in laminar tube flow for constant heat flux
Air at 1 atm and 27°C enters a 5.0-mm-diameter smooth tube with a velocity of 3.0 m/s. The length of the tube
is 10 cm. A constant heat flux is imposed on the tube wall. Taking into account the entrance effect, calculate the
heat transfer if the exit bulk temperature is 77°C. Also calculate the exit wall temperature and the value of h at
exit.
Solution:
27 + 77
The average bulk temperature is T9 b= = 52°C = 325K
2
From table A-5,
υ = 18.22 × 10 12 kg/m 5 s k = 0.02814 W/m 5 °C Pr = 0.703
ρ = 1.1774 kg/m3

ud (3)(0.005)
Red = = = 823 < 2000
υ 18.22 × 10 12
So the flow is laminar. The tube length is rather short, so we
expect a thermal entrance effect. The inverse Graetz number is
computed as
1 x 0.1
Gz1+ = = = 0.0346
Re! Pr d 823 (0.703)(0.005)
17
According to the figure, for a constant heat flux, qw = constant, Nud = 4.7.
Example 3: Heating of air in laminar tube flow for constant heat flux
hd qwd
Nud = = 4.7 =
k Tw − Tb k
The mass flow rate is
πd/ (1.1774)(3)π(0.05) /
ṁ = ρu = = 6.94 × 10 14 kg/s
4 4
The total heat transfer is obtained in terms of the overall energy balance:
̇ p T)! − T)" = (6.94 × 10 14 )(1006)(77 − 27) = 3.49 W
q = mc

To determine Tw we must compute qw:

q = qwπdL = 3.49 W → qwπ (0.005)(0.1) = 3.49 W → qw = 2222 W
qwd (2222)(0.005)
T)! − T)" 567 = = = 84°C
kNud (4.7)(0.02814)
The wall temperature at exit is thus
Tw: = 84 + 77 = 161°C
567

and the heat-transfer coefficient is

qw 2222
h567 = = = 26.45W/m2 5 °C 18
T)! − T)" 567 84
Example 4: Heating of air with isothermal tube wall
Repeat Example 3 for the case of constant wall temperature.
Solution:
For Tw = constant, Nud = 5.15
From example 3, we have
k = 0.02814 W/m 5 °C , d = 0.005 m , L = 0.1 m, T9 b = 52°C, q = 3.49 W

The average heat-transfer coefficient as

kNu! (0.02814)(5.15)
h9 = = = 28.98 W/m2 5 °C
d 0.005
The heat transfer is given by
9
q = hπdL Tw − T9 b = 3.49 W
(28.98)π(0.005) Tw − 52 = 3.49

Tw = 128.67°C

19
Example 5: Heat Transfer in a Rough Tube
A 2.0-cm-diameter tube having a relative roughness of 0.001 is maintained at a constant wall temperature of
90°C.Water enters the tube at 40°C and leaves at 60°C. If the entering velocity is 3 m/s, calculate the length of
tube necessary to accomplish the heating.
Solution:
The bulk temperature is Tb = (40 + 60)/2 = 50 °C.
From table A-9, at 50 °C, ρ = 989 kg/m3, cp = 4174
πd/ (0.02) /
ṁ = ρu = (989)(3) = 0.2967 kg/s
4 4
We calculate the heat transfer from
̇ p∆T) = (0.2967)(4174)(60 − 40) = 77812 W
q = mc

For the rough-tube condition, we employ the Petukhov relation:

The mean film temperature is Tf = (90 + 50)/2 = 70 °C.
At 70 °C, the fluid properties are
ρ = 978 kg/m3 μ = 4.0 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s k = 0.664 W/m 5 °C Pr = 2.54
ρud (978)(3)(0.002)
Red = = = 146700
μ 4 × 10 1' 20
Example 5: Heat Transfer in a Rough Tube
From the Moody diagram, at Re = 146700,
f = 0.0218 f/8 = 0.002725

From the Petukhov relation for rough tube:

f /8 Re! Pr μ𝑏 #
Nu! =
1.07 + 12.7 f /8 +// Pr//- − 1 μw
where at Tb = 50 °C, μb = 5.52 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s.
At Tw = 90 °C, μw = 3.19 × 10 1' kg/m 5 s.
Because Tw > Tb, we take n = 0.11.
$.++
0.002725 (146700)(2.54) 5.52
Nu! =
1.07 + 12.7 0.002725 +// 2.54 //- − 1 3.19
= 657.1
kNud (0.664)(657.1)
h= = = 21816 W/m2 5 °C
d 0.02
The tube length is then obtained from the energy balance
q = hπdL Tw − Tb = 77812 W → (21816)π(0.02)L(90 – 50) = 77812 → L = 1.42 m 21
Example 6: Turbulent Heat Transfer in a Short Tube
Air at 300 K and 1 atm enters a smooth tube having a diameter of 2 cm and length of 10 cm. The air velocity is
40 m/s. What constant heat flux must be applied at the tube surface to result in an air temperature rise of 5°C?
What average wall temperature would be necessary for this case?
Solution:
Because of the relatively small value of L/d = 10/2 = 5 we may anticipate that thermal entrance effects will be
present in the flow. First, we determine the air properties at 300 K as
ρ = 1.18 kg/m3 υ = 15.69 × 10 12 kg/m 5 s k = 0.02624 W/m 5 °C cp = 1006 J/kg 5 °C Pr = 0.7
The Reynolds number is given by
ud (40)(0.02)
Red = = = 50988
υ 15.69 × 10 12
so the flow is turbulent. For Red = 50988, Pr = 0.7, L/d = 5,
from the graph of turbulent thermal entry , we have
Nux / Nu∞ = 1.15

We calculate the heat-transfer coefficient for developed flow using

Nu! = 0.023Re$.& $.' $.&
! Pr = 0.023(50988) (0.7)
$.' = 116.3

h = (1.15)kNud/d = (1.15)(0.02624)(116.3)/0.02=175.5 W/m2 5 °C 22

Example 6: Turbulent Heat Transfer in a Short Tube
The mass flow is
/
1.18 40 π 0.02
ṁ = ρuAc = = 0.0148 kg/s
4
so the total heat transfer is
̇ p ∆T) = (0.0148)(1006)(5) = 74.4W
q = mc
This heat flow is convected from a tube surface area of
A = πdL = π(0.02)(0.1) = 0.0628 m2
so the heat flux is
q/A = 74.4/0.0628 = 11841 W/m2 = h (Tw − Tb)
We have
300 + 305
𝑇9) = = 302.5K
2
11841
𝑇98 = 𝑇9) + = 302.5 + 67.5 = 370 K
175.5

23