California State University Los Angeles

ME315 – Thermal Systems Laboratory

Combined Heat Transfer under Natural Convection

Objective:

To determine the combined heat transfer (Qradiation + Qconvection) from a horizontal cylinder in natural convection
over a wide range of power inputs and corresponding surface temperatures.
To demonstrate the relationship between power input and surface temperature in free convection.

Method:

By measuring the temperature on the surface of a horizontal cylinder subjected to heat loss by in combination of
radiation and natural convection then comparing the results obtained with those obtained from a theoretical
analysis.

Theory:

In the case of natural (free) convection the Nusselt (Nu) number depends on the Grashof (Gr) and Prandtl (Pr)
numbers and the heat transfer correlation can be expressed in the form:

Nu = f(Gr, Pr) and the Rayleigh number Ra = (Gr Pr)

The following theoretical analysis uses an empirical relationship for the heat transfer due to natural convection
proposed by V.T. Morgan in the paper "The Overall Convective Heat Transfer from Smooth Circular Cylinders"
published in TF Irvine and JP Hartnett (eds.), Advances in Heat Transfer vol. 16, Academic, New York, 1975, pp
199-269.

If

Ts = Surface temperature of cylinder (K)

D = Diameter of cylinder (m)
L = Heated length of cylinder (m)
Ta = Ambient temperature of air (K)
Heat transfer area (surface area): As   DL  (m2)
Heat loss due to natural convection: Qc  Hcm As  Ts  Ta  (W)
Heat loss due to radiation: Qr  Hrm As  Ts  Ta  (W)
Total heat loss from the cylinder: Qtot  Qc  Qr (W)

The average heat transfer coefficient for radiation H rm can be calculated using the following relationship:

H rm  F
Ts
4
 Ta4 
(Wm-2K-1)
 Ts  Ta 
Where:

σ = Stefan Boltzmann constant σ = 56.7 x 10-9 (Wm-2 K-4)

ξ = Emmisivity of surface (Dimensionless)
F = 1 = View factor (Dimensionless)

The average heat transfer coefficient for natural convection H cm can be calculated using the following relationship:

Tfilm 
 Ts  Ta  (K)
2
1
 (K-1)
Tfilm
g  Ts  Ta  D3
GrD 
2
Ra D   GrD Pr 

Therefore:

g  Ts  Ta  D3
Ra D  Pr
2
Nu m  c  Ra D 
n
(From Morgan, where c and n are obtained from the table below)

Hcm 
 kNu m  (Wm-2K-1)
D

Where:

Ra = Rayleigh number (Dimensionless)

Gr = Grashof number (Dimensionless)
Num = Nusselt number (average) (Dimensionless)
Pr = Prandtl number (Dimensionless)
g = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 (ms-2)
β = Volume expansion coefficient (K-1)
ν = Kinematic viscosity of air (m2s-1)
k = Thermal conductivity of air (Wm-1 K-1)

Note: k, Pr, and ν are physical properties of the air taken at the film temperature Tfilm.

The actual power supplied to the heated cylinder can be calculated as Q in = V I (W)

Table listing constant c and exponent n for natural convection on a horizontal cylinder (Source - Morgan):

RaD c n
10-9 to 10-2 0.675 0.058
10-2 to 102 1.02 0.148
102 to 104 0.850 0.188
104 to 107 0.480 0.250
107 to 1012 0.125 0.333

Alternatively a simplified equation may be used to calculate the heat transfer coefficient for free convection from
the publication "Heat Transmission" WH McAdams, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1959

2
  T  Ta 
0.25

Hcm  1.32  s  (Wm-2 K-1)

 D 

The value for Hcm should be calculated using both the original and simplified equations and the values compared.

Equipment Required:

HT14 Combined Convection and Radiation Accessory

HT10X Heat Transfer Service Unit

Equipment Set Up:

Before proceeding with the exercise ensure that the equipment has been prepared as follows:-

1. Locate the HT14 Combined Convection and Radiation accessory alongside the HT10X Heat Transfer
Service Unit on a suitable bench.
2. Ensure that the horizontal cylinder is located at the top of the metal duct with the thermocouple located on
the side of the cylinder (the cylinder can be rotated by releasing the thumb screw on the top of the
mounting arrangement. Ensure that the thumb screw is securely tightened after adjustment).
3. Connect the thermocouple attached to the heated cylinder to socket T10 on the front of the service unit.
4. Connect the thermocouple located in the vertical duct to socket T9 on the service unit.
5. Open the throttle plate at the front of the fan to allow air to enter the fan casing but do not connect the
mains lead from the fan to the socket on the service unit (the fan will not be used for this exercise). Turn
the adjusting knob anticlockwise to open the throttle plate.
6. Set the VOLTAGE CONTROL potentiometer to minimum (counter clockwise) and the selector switch to
MANUAL then connect the power lead from the heated cylinder on HT14 to the socket marked O/P 3
HT10X.
7. Ensure that the service unit (HT10X) is connected to an electrical supply.

Procedure:

Refer to the Operational Procedures section on page 3-1 if you need details of the instrumentation and how to
operate it.

1. Switch on the front mains switch. (If the panel meters do not illuminate check the RCD and any circuit
breakers at the rear of the service unit; all switches at the rear should be up.)
2. Since this will be operated manually set the selector switch to MANUAL on HT10X.
3. Set the heater voltage to 5 volts:
 Adjust the voltage control potentiometer to give a reading of 5 volts on the top panel meter with the
selector switch set to position V.
4. Allow the HT14 to stabilize. Monitor the temperatures using the lower selector switch/meter.
5. When the temperatures are stable record the following (can take up to 20-30 minutes for this to occur):

T9, T10, V, I.

6. Repeat procedure 3 to 5 for 8, 12, 15, 20 volts ensuring that the temperature has reached steady state each
time.

Note: Do not set the heater voltage in excess of 20 Volts when operating the cylinder in natural convection (no
forced airflow). The life of the heating element will be considerably reduced if operated at excessive temperature.

3
Results and Calculations

For this exercise the raw data is tabulated under the following headings:

Heater Voltage V Volts

Heater Current I Amps
Upstream air temperature T9 (°C)
Surface temperature of cylinder T10 (°C)

For this exercise the following constants are applicable:

Diameter of cylinder D = 0.01 (m)

Heater length of cylinder L = 0.07 (m)
Emissivity of surface ξ = 0.95
Stefan Boltzmann constant σ = 56.7 x 10-9 (Wm-2k-4)

For each set of readings the derived results are tabulated under the following headings:

Heat flow (Power to heater) Qin (Watts)

Heat transfer area (surface area) As (m2)
Heat transfer coefficient (natural convection) Hcm (Wm-2k-1)
Heat transfer coefficient (radiation) Hrm (Wm-2k-1)
Heat transferred by natural convection Qc (W)
Heat transferred by radiation Qr (W)
Total heat transferred Qtot (W)

Discussion/Analysis

 Compare theoretical values for Qtot with the measured values for Qin and explain any differences in values.
 Compare the calculated heat transferred due to convection Q c and radiation Qr.
 Compare the value for Hcm obtained using the simplified and full empirical equations and comment on any
difference.
 Plot a graph of surface temperature T10 against power input Qin and observe the relationship.
 Observe that the heat transferred from the cylinder to the surroundings increases with the difference
between the surface temperature of the cylinder and the temperature of the surroundings.
 Add additional discussion as necessary

Datasheet:
Tfilm ν k Pr
(K) m2/s W/mK
-5
300 1.684 x10 0.02624 0.708
-5
350 2.076 x10 0.03003 0.697
-5
400 2.590 x10 0.03365 0.689
-5
450 3.171 x10 0.03707 0.683
-5
500 3.790 x10 0.04038 0.680
-5
550 4.434 x10 0.04360 0.680
-5
600 5.134 x10 0.04659 0.680