1.

0 Title: Forced and Natural Convection

2.0 Objective

To demonstrate the use of a flat plate to improve the thermal properties of heat transfer
in forced convection.
 3.0 Introduction

Convection is heat transfer by mass motion of a fluid such as air or water when the heated fluid
is caused to move away from the source of heat, carrying energy with it. Convection heat
transfer takes place through advection – in which heat is transported by the large scale motion
of current in the fluid, diffusion – the random Brownian motion of individual particles in the
fluid or both. Convection above a hot surface occurs because hot air expands, becomes less
dense, and rise. Hot water is likewise less dense than cold water and rises, causing convection
currents which transport energy.

Convection is classified as natural (or free) and forced convection, depending on how the fluid
motion is initiated. Natural buoyancy forces alone are entirely responsible for fluid motion
when the fluid is heated is called natural convection. An example is the draft in a chimney or
around any fire. In natural convection, an increase in temperature produces a reduction in
density, which in turn causes fluid motion due to pressure and forces fluids of different
densities are affected by gravity. For example, when the water is heated on a stove, hot water
from the bottom of the pan rises, displacing the colder denser liquid, which falls.

Convection can be ‘forced’ by movement of a fluid by means other than buoyancy forces
(external force) such as using water pump in an automobile engine. Thermal expansion of fluids
may also force convection. Forced convection is found very commonly in everyday life,
including central heating, air conditioning, steam turbines and in many other machines. It
should be considered as one of the main methods of useful heat transfer as significant amounts
of heat energy can be transport efficiently.
 4.0 Theory

Heat transfer from an object can be improved by increasing the surface area in contact with the
air by adding fins or pins normal to the surface. This can be seen in Newton’s Law of Cooling
which defines the convection heat transfer rate:

Q̇ = hAs (Ts − T∞ )

Where;

Q̇ = Power input

h = convection heat transfer coefficient

As = area of plate

Ts = heater temperature

T∞ = air temperature

Figure 1.1: The illustration of experimental equipment.

Velocity Boundary Layer

Consider the flow of a fluid over a flat plate, the velocity and the temperature of the fluid
approaching the plate is uniform at U∞ and T∞. The fluid can be considered as adjacent layers
on top of each other.

Figure 1.2: Velocity boundary layer

Thermal Boundary Layer

A thermal boundary layer develops when a fluid at a specified temperature flows over a surface
that is at a different temperature. The shape of the temperature profile in the thermal boundary
layer dictates the convection heat transfer between a solid surface and the fluid flowing over
it.

Figure 1.3: Thermal boundary layer

Non‐dimensional Groups

In convection, it is a common practice to non‐dimensionalize the governing equations and

combines the variables which group together into dimensionless numbers (groups).

Nusselt number: non‐dimensional heat transfer coefficient

where δ is the characteristic length, i.e. D for the tube and L for the flat plate.

Nusselt number represents the enhancement of heat transfer through a fluid as a result of
convection relative to conduction across the same fluid layer.

Reynolds number: ratio of inertia forces to viscous forces in the fluid

At large Re numbers, the inertia forces, which are proportional to the density and the velocity
of the fluid, are large relative to the viscous forces; thus the viscous forces cannot prevent the
random and rapid fluctuations of the fluid (turbulent regime).

The Reynolds number at which the flow becomes turbulent is called the critical Reynolds
Number. For flat plate the critical Re is experimentally determined to be approximately Re
critical = 5 x105.

Prandtl number: is a measure of relative thickness of the velocity and thermal boundary layer
where fluid properties are:

mass density : ρ, (kg/m3) specific heat capacity : Cp (J/kg ∙ K)

dynamic viscosity : μ, (N ∙ s/m2) kinematic viscosity : ν, μ / ρ (m2/s)

thermal conductivity : k, (W/m∙ K) thermal diffusivity : α, k/(ρ ∙ Cp) (m2/s)

 5.0 Apparatus

The surfaces are shown in the figure below. The parameter of flat plate is 0.1m high and 0.11m
wide.

Flat plate
 Fan

Temperature Sensor Flat Plate

(Thermal anemometer)

Temperature Display

Power Input Display Fan’s velocity Display

Stopwatch
6.0 Procedure

1. The main input power supply plug was connected to a single-phase electrical supply.
2. The heater power control knob and fan speed control knob turned fully anti-
clockwise.
3. The flat plate was clamped into the duct using the two toggles clamps.
4. The anemometer sensor was carefully located into the temperature lead on heat
exchanger.
5. Heater power was set up at control to 75 w and the fan speed control was set up to 2.5
m/s.
6. The surface temperature were recorded until its reach constant (5 recorded).
7. Switch off the apparatus after the experiment was done.
 7.0 Result Analysis

Heater Power = 75W

Velocities = 2.5 (m/s)

Surface Area Flat Plate, As = 0.1*0.11= 0.011m2

Time(min) Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature Heat transfer

in, T1 (℃) in, T3 (℃) Surface, TS Different, coefficient,
(℃) (℃) h W/(m2.K)
1 25.2 25.8 66.5 41.3 165.09
2 25.2 25.7 66.7 41.5 164.29
3 25.2 25.7 66.9 41.7 163.51
4 25.2 25.7 67.1 41.9 162.73
5 25.2 25.7 67.2 42.0 162.34
6 25.2 25.7 67.4 42.2 161.57
7 25.2 25.7 67.7 42.5 160.43
8 25.3 25.8 67.8 42.5 160.43
9 25.4 26.0 67.9 42.5 160.43
10 25.4 26.0 68.0 42.6 160.05
11 25.3 26.0 68.1 42.8 159.30
12 25.3 25.9 68.2 42.9 158.93
13 25.3 26.0 68.3 43.0 158.56
14 25.3 25.9 68.3 43.0 158.56
15 25.3 26.0 68.4 43.1 158.19
16 25.3 26.1 68.5 43.2 157.83
17 25.3 26.3 68.6 43.3 157.46
18 25.4 26.1 68.6 43.2 157.83
19 25.3 26.0 68.7 43.4 157.10
20 25.3 25.9 68.8 43.5 156.74
21 25.4 26.2 68.9 43.5 156.74
22 25.3 26.0 69.0 43.7 156.02
23 25.3 26.0 69.1 43.8 155.67
24 25.3 25.8 69.2 43.9 155.31
25 25.3 26.0 69.2 43.9 155.31
26 25.3 25.9 69.2 43.9 155.31
27 25.2 25.9 69.2 44.0 154.96
28 25.2 25.9 69.2 44.0 154.96
29 25.2 26.0 69.3 44.1 154.61
30 25.2 25.9 69.3 44.1 154.61
31 25.2 25.9 69.3 44.1 154.61
32 25.2 25.9 69.3 44.1 154.61
33 25.2 25.8 69.4 44.2 154.26
34 25.2 25.9 69.4 44.2 154.26
35 25.2 25.9 69.4 44.2 154.26
36 25.2 25.9 69.4 44.2 154.26
37 25.3 26.0 69.4 44.1 154.61
8.0 Sample Calculation

Sample Calculation

Heater Power = 75W

Velocities = 2.5 (m/s)

Surface Area Flat Plate, As = 0.1*0.11= 0.011m2

1. Temperature Different = Temperature Surface, TS – Temperature in, T1

At the time = 15 min,

The temperature different (℃) = TS – T1

= 68.4 ℃ - 25.3 ℃

= 43.1 ℃

2. For heat transfer coefficient, h

h = Q / [As * (TS – T1)]

= 75 / [0.011 *(43.1)]

= 158.19 W/(m2.K)
 Temperature Different, (℃) vs Time (min)
44.5

44
Temperature Different, (℃)

43.5

43

42.5

42

41.5

41
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Time (min)

Graph 1: Temperature Different, (℃) versus Time (min)

Temperature Different, (℃) vs Heat transfer coefficient, h ,W/(m2.K)

44.5

44
Temperature Different, (℃)

43.5

43

42.5

42

41.5

41
152 154 156 158 160 162 164 166
Heat transfer coefficient, h ,W/(m2.K)

Graph 2: Temperature Different, (℃) vs Heat transfer coefficient, h,W/(m2.K)

9.0 Discussion
10.0 Conclusion
11.0 Reference
12.0 Appendixes