C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Lab 3: Natural Convection

Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in

Lab Report
Jason Samuel

Supervisor: Camila D’Bastiani

Mechanical Engineering
School of Mechanical Engineering
TU Dublin, City Campus, Bolton St

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Nomenclature
𝑡 = thickness (mm)
𝐹𝑂𝑆 𝑜𝑟 𝑠 = Factor of Safety
𝑄 = Heat loss (J)
𝑄̇ = rate of heat loss (W)
𝑚̇ 𝑜𝑟 𝑆 = mass flow rate (Kg/s)
𝛥ℎ = change in enthalpy (kJ/Kg)
ℎ = enthalpy (kJ/Kg)
𝑐 = heat capacity (J/Kg.K)
𝑚 = mass (Kg)
𝑊
R = Thermal resistance (𝑚2 ⋅𝐾)

ρ = density (Kg/m3)
A = Cross sectional area (m2)
V = velocity (m/s)
P = pressure (Pa)
𝛥𝑥 = change in length (m)
𝑘 = Thermal conductivity (W/m.k)
h = thermal conductivity for pipes (W/m.k)
𝑉̅ = specific volume (m3/Kg)
D = diameter (m)
𝛥𝑇 = change in temperature (K)
U = Overall heat transfer coefficient ( W/m2K)
L = length (m)
Nu = Nusselts number
Ra = Raleigh Number
h = convection coefficient (W/m2K)
g = gravity (m/s2)
β = Volumetric thermal expansion coefficient ( K-1)
Pr = Prandtl Number
ν = kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
ε = emissivity

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

V and I = Volts and Amps ( V and I)

Subscripts used
i = inner
o = outer
p = specific
f = fluid
g = gas
c = cold
H = hot

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Table of Contents
Nomenclature .............................................................................................................................. i

Subscripts used.......................................................................................................................ii

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1

Aims ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 2

Theoretical Background ............................................................................................................. 3

Apparatus ................................................................................................................................... 4

Procedure ................................................................................................................................... 6

Results ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Sample Calculations................................................................................................................... 8

Discussions .............................................................................................................................. 11

Conclusions .............................................................................................................................. 12

References ................................................................................................................................ 13

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Tables of Equations
Equation 1 Newtons Law of cooling ......................................................................................... 3
Equation 2 Nusselts number ...................................................................................................... 3

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Table of Tables
Table 1 Initial Data..................................................................................................................... 7
Table 2 Part 1 of data ................................................................................................................. 7
Table 3 Final data ....................................................................................................................... 7

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Introduction
Natural convection is the spontaneous flow of fluid caused by temperature gradients and
density inequalities. It is essential to many environmental and technical processes. Optimizing
the design and functionality of heat exchangers, cooling systems, and environmental control
systems requires a thorough understanding of and quantification of heat transfer by natural
convection.
The goal in this lab experiment is to find the corresponding heat transfer coefficients and study
natural convection heat transfer. In situations where fluid motion is exclusively caused by
buoyant forces driven by temperature fluctuations, natural convection takes place. Many
applications, such as electronic cooling systems, geothermal energy extraction, and building
ventilation, frequently experience this behaviour.
The aim of this experiment is to determine the heat transfer coefficients by measuring the
temperature distribution in a fluid medium that is subjected to natural convection. This can
then be used to evaluate theoretical models describing natural convection and define the
convective heat transfer process by varying parameters including fluid temperature, and power
input.

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Aims
Determine the heat transfer coefficient in a free convection flow surrounding a cylinder.
Recognize the relationship between Rayleigh, Reynolds, and Nu numbers. Compare with the
usual correlation seen in heat transfer textbooks.
To evaluate the experimental accuracy and to compare the calculated heat transfer coefficients
with theoretical values.

Objectives
• Record the required data in a controlled and accurate way.
• Conduct calculations with the gathered data.
• Review the data and draw conclusions.
• Suggest where errors could be mitigated and future improvements for the experiment.

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Theoretical Background
Convection is a heat transfer mechanism that takes place between a solid surface and its
surroundings fluid or gases. Convection and conduction are similar to a certain extent, where
if a solid and a stagnant fluid are in contact, the heat transfer mechanism at play is conduction.
With the addition of bulk fluid motion is when conduction is eliminated, and convection is
present. [1]
In the context of this lab, natural convection will be the focus. Natural convection is caused by
induced buoyancy forces that are a result of density differences due to a temperature gradient.
The formula for convection shares similarities with the Fourier Law of Heat Conduction, as
Newton presented in the 1700’s. See equation below:
̇ 𝐴𝑠 ℎ𝑐 (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣=
Equation 1 Newtons Law of cooling

The convective heat transfer coefficient denoted by the symbol ‘hc’ is a ratio of the heat flux
and the driving force of the flow of heat. It is the inverse of thermal insulance and is highly
important in the study of heat flow. The study of natural convection allows the possibility of
analysing how objects interact with the surroundings.
The last important parameter to define is the Nusselt number. The Nusselt number is imperative
in the analysis of convective heat transfer as it is the ratio of total heat transfer to conductive
heat transfer. The total heat transfer combining the conductive and convective terms. It can be
expressed in the following equation:
ℎ̅𝐷
𝑁𝑢𝐷 =
𝑘

Equation 2 Nusselts number

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Apparatus
Here is a diagram of the apparatus used. The apparatus used is called the Armfield combined
convection and radiation. The apparatus allows a cylinder to be heated to a range of
temperatures. These temperatures are recorded using thermocouples placed on the hot surface
and placed in the tube.

T10
Heated
zone

T9

Throttle
Figure 1 Picture of Apparatus
Plate

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 C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Here is the control panel and anemometer shown below:

Power
Dial

Temperature
dial

Anemometer

Figure 2 Control Panel and Anenometer

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Procedure
1. Turn on the heat transfer unit and connect the instruments to it. Ensure the
thermocouples are in the right channel.
2. Wait for the apparatus to reach steady state.
3. Record the values of T10, T9, Voltage and current.
4. Repeat the above steps and vary the volts and amps.

Show below is the tabulated data given before the experiment.

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Results
Here are the results of the experiment and the calculations.
Firstly, the data given at the start of the experiment will be shown below:
Set Volts (V) I (Amps) T∞ cels T∞ K T10 cels T10 K
1 4 0.68 31.9 305.05 74 347.15
2 8 1.37 32.5 305.65 173 446.15
3 16 2.71 33.1 306.25 400 673.15
Table 1 Initial Data

The following calculations were conducted using the above data:

Table 2 Part 1 of data

hc 1st hc 2nd
Raleigh c n NuD 1 NuD 2 W/m2K W/m2K
2646.892 0.85 0.188 3.740187 2.861378 10.5542 8.074346
4640.604 0.85 0.188 4.156568 3.264567 11.76294 9.238608
3853.453 0.85 0.188 4.013828 3.112961 15.93415 12.35788
Table 3 Final data

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Sample Calculations
Step 1:
𝑄𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉 × 𝐼
= 4 × 0.68
= 2.72 𝑊
Step 2:
𝑄𝑅𝑎𝑑 = 𝜀𝜎𝐴(𝑇𝑠4 − 𝑇∞4 )
= 1 × 5.67 × 10−8 × 0.0022 × (347.154 − 305.054 )
= 0.73𝑊
Step 3:
̇ 𝐴𝑠 ℎ𝑟 (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑=
Rearrange for hr and solve:
𝑄𝑅𝑎𝑑
= ℎ𝑟
𝐴 × (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
ℎ𝑟 = 7.9 𝑊/𝑚𝐾
Step 4:
̇ 𝑄𝑖𝑛−
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣= ̇ 𝑄𝑟𝑎𝑑
̇
= 2.72 − 0.73
= 1.99 𝑊
Step 5:
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣
= ℎ𝑐
𝐴 × (𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
1.99
=
0.0022 × (347.15 − 305.05)
𝑊
= 21.48
𝑚𝑘
Step 6:
(𝑇𝑠 + 𝑇∞ )
𝑇𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚 =
2
347.15 + 305.05
=
2
= 326.1 𝐾

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Step 7:
1
𝛽=
𝑇𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚
1
=
326.1
= 0.00307
Step 8: Use interpolation formula
𝑌2 − 𝑌1
𝑌 = 𝑌1 + × (𝑋 − 𝑋1 )
𝑋2 − 𝑋1
2.076 − 1.568
= 1.568 + × (326.1 − 300)
350 − 300
𝑚2
= 1.833 × 10−5
𝑠
For Prandtl number = 0.7022
For thermal conductivity = 0.028 w/mk

Step 9:
(𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ )
𝑅𝑎𝐷 = 𝑔 × 𝛽 × × 𝐷3
𝑣2
347.15 − 305.05
= 9.81 × 0.00307 × × 0.013
1.833 × 10−5
= 2646
Step 10: read c and n coefficients
C= 0.85
N = 0.188

Step 11:
𝑁𝑢𝐷 = 𝑐𝑅𝑎𝐷𝑛
= 0.85 × 26460.188
= 3.74
Step 12:
ℎ̅𝐷
𝑁𝑢𝐷 =
𝑘
𝑁𝑢𝐷 𝑘
ℎ̅ =
𝐷

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

3.74 × 0.028
=
0.01
= 10.55 𝑊/𝑚2 𝐾
Step 13:
1
0.387 × 𝑅𝑎𝐷6 2
𝑁𝑢𝐷 = (0.6 + 9 8)
0.559 16
[1 + ( ) ]27
𝑃𝑟

𝑁𝑢𝐷 = 2.86
Step 14:
ℎ̅𝐷
𝑁𝑢𝐷 =
𝑘
𝑁𝑢𝐷 𝑘
ℎ̅ =
𝐷
2.86 × 0.028
=
0.01
= 8.07 𝑊/𝑚2 𝐾

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Discussions
From the results above, it was clear that there were some errors found in the lab. Firstly, the
convection coefficients found experimentally were not as close as expected. This error could
be caused by experimental errors. The main cause could be that the apparatus has not reached
steady- state. This would lead to errors in the calculations as the data used in the calculations
differed to the ones used in the experiment.

The convective coefficient calculated using the Churchill and Chu correlation were almost half
the theoretical value. This would indicate the correlations do not accurately dictate the
behaviour of real-world models. Although there may be some errors found in the experimental
setup itself, some error can be attributed to the calculations.

The geometry of the cylinder could also be altered to improve the accuracy of this experiment.
The surface roughness of the cylinder plays a part on the effectiveness of the experiment, and
it was not accounted for in the calculations. This oversight would increase the efficacy of the
experiment and could mitigate the experimental error.

The Raleigh number in the second set of experiments also seems to be an outlier in the observed
trend of data. This could be another source of error in the experiments. To mitigate these errors,
more time should be given to ensure that steady state has been achieved and more sets of
experiments should be ran to reduce the impact of outliers.

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

Conclusions
In summary, the goal of this lab experiment was to examine the heat transfer caused by natural
convection and identify related variables such convective coefficients and the Nusselt number.
Natural convection is a basic phenomenon with many practical uses that is propelled by
buoyant forces brought about by temperature variations in a fluid medium.

It was found there were differences between the theoretical and experimental and this was
caused by the experiment not being conducted at steady state. Surface roughness was also not
taken into the consideration, and this would also reduce the error in the calculations.

Natural convection is a slow means of removing heat from an object, as there are no external
forces at play, it is a slow form of heat removal. This does, however, have its place as it can be
used in insulation purposes.

In conclusion, this lab experiment has shed important light on natural convection heat transfer
and offered useful insights. Through further investigation of this basic phenomenon, engineers
can create more effective and long-lasting heat management systems for a variety of sectors
and uses.

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C19436526 Lab 3 MECH4008

References

[1] A. J. G. Yunus Cengel, Heat and Mass transfer, SIngapore: McGraw Hill, 2020`.

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