Contents

Executive summary: ..................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction: ................................................................................................................................. 3
Objective: ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Procedure: ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Experiment .................................................................................................................................... 5
Analysis: ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Result and discussions: ................................................................................................................. 5
Conclusion and Recommendations: ............................................................................................ 7
References:..................................................................................................................................... 7
Appendix:....................................................................................................................................... 8

Figure 1: Experimental set-up for unsteady heat transfer unit ................................................ 4

Figure 2: Key parts of unsteady heat transfer unit ................................................................... 4
Figure 3: Heating profile for brass and stainless steel at @60°C ............................................. 6
Figure 4: Heating model profile for brass and stainless steel at @60°C.................................. 6
Figure 5: Cooling profile for brass and stainless steel at @27°C ............................................. 6
Figure 6: Cooling model profile for brass and stainless steel at @27°C .................................. 7

Table 1: The values of heat transfer coefficient and Biot number and Fourier number
obtained.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Table 2: Physical Properties of Brass and stainless steel .......................................................... 8
Table 3:Observations for Brass cylinder .................................................................................... 8
Table 4: Observations for Stainless steel cylinder ..................................................................... 9
Table 5: Calculations and model evaluation of Brass @60°C ................................................ 10
Table 6: Calculations and model evaluation of stainless steel @60°C ................................... 11
Table 7: Calculations and model evaluation of Brass @27°C ................................................ 11
Table 8: Calculations and model evaluation of Stainless steel @27°C ................................. 12

1
Executive summary:
Under Steady state conditions the temperature within the system does not change with time. The
objective of this experiment was to calculate the Fourier Number, Biot Number, and heat transfer
coefficient for Brass and stainless steel under unsteady state of heating and cooling. The
experiment was conducted using a unsteady heat transfer unit apparatus. During heating and
cooling process bath temperature was maintained at a 60°C 27 °C respectively. Using the
average value of heat transfer coefficient, modelled data was prepared which was then used to
compare the 'h' values and also for plotting the graph with respect to time.
Following results were obtained for this experiment:
For Brass: (heating)
The heat transfer coefficient: 714.45W/m2K.
The Biot number and Fourier number: 0.06 and 17.96 respectively.

For Brass: (cooling)

The heat transfer coefficient:785.57 W/m2K.

For Stainless Steel: (heating)

The heat transfer coefficient: 40.33W/m2K.
The Biot number and Fourier number:0.021 and 11.874 respectively.

For Stainless Steel: (cooling)

The heat transfer coefficient: 176.570 33W/m2K.

2
Introduction:
Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy from a body at higher temperature to the body at
lower temperature. Transfer of thermal energy can take place under steady state or unsteady state
conditions. When there is no effect time on the temperature, it is called as steady state condition.
but in unsteady state the temperature of the system varies with time. In this experiment two solid
bodies: Brass and stainless steel are used such that unsteady state heat transfer takes place
between a liquid and a solid body. Liquid is maintained at high temperature whereas solid body
is at low temperature.
For Unsteady state two dimensionless numbers are considered i.e. Biot Number (Bi) and Fourier
Number (Fo)
Biot number(Bi):It is the dimensionless number named after the 18th century French physicist
Jean-Baptiste Biot (1774-1862). It is defined as the ratio of internal heat transfer resistances to
the resistance at the surface of a body. For Bi<0.1, it means that heat transfer by conduction
inside the body is faster than convective heat transfer taking place away from the body surface.
Also temperature can be assumed to be constant throughout the material's volume. In this case
lumped capacitance analysis method is considered. For Bi>0.1, temperature varies with respect
to time.

Fourier number (FO):It is also a dimensionless number which is ratio of diffusive or conductive
transport rate to heat storage rate. It was named after Joseph Fourier (1768-1830). It is obtained
by multiplying the dimensional time(t) by the thermal diffusivity ( ) and dividing by the square
of the characteristic length (l)
Along with the Fourier number, the Biot number can be used in transient conduction problems in
a lumped parameter solution, which can be written as,
= exp(− × ) (1)

= (2)

= (3)
× × ×
ℎ= (4)

×
= −( − )× − × ×
(5)

Where,
Ts= Temp. of bath(infinity temperature)(°C)
T0= initial temperature (°C)
Tb= temperature at any time t (°C)
L= characteristic length (m)
ρ= density of brass/steel (kg/m3)

3
 cp= heat capacity(J/kg.K)
α= Thermal diffusivity (m2/s)
k = thermal conductivity(W/m.K)
h = heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to determine heat transfer coefficient and to calculate Biot
Number and Fourier Number.
Experimental setup:

Control panel
Heat transfer unit

Figure 1: Experimental set-up for unsteady heat transfer unit

Agitator
Stainless steel cylinder

Brass cylinder

Heating rods

Figure 2: Key parts of unsteady heat transfer unit

The above apparatus is of unsteady heat transfer unit. It consists of two test cylinders, one of
brass and the other of stainless each of 0.019m characteristic length. Thermocouples present at
the center of the cylinder are used to measure the steady state temperature. The two cylinder
should be completely immersed in the water bath. The water bath is provided with a heater and
an agitator. A control panel with knobs for operating the heater and the agitator are present.

4
Procedure:
Start-up
1. Ensure all the valves are closed and apparatus is clean.
2. Fill water in the tank to a certain level.

Experiment
1. Switch on the agitator and set bath temperature at 60˚ C.
2. Immerse the stainless steel cylinder in water and start the time using a stopwatch.
3. Note down the temperature with respect to time. Temperature should be constant. (Heating
time)
4. Immerse the hot cylinder in the cold water and the temperature at regular interval (Cooling
time)
5. Repeat the above procedure for brass cylinder.
Shut-down
1. Turn OFF the heater, agitator.
2. Switch OFF the main supply.
3. Drain out the water from the tank.
4. Make sure that the tank is clean for the next performer.

Analysis:
1. Initial temperature of brass cylinder: 28.7°C
2. Initial temperature of stainless steel cylinder: 39.7°C
3. Cold bath temperature: 27°C
4. Hot bath temperature: 60°C
5. Dimensions of the tank: 38.3 x 32.8 x 25.5 cm (L x B x H)
6. Biot number is calculated by using equation (2)
7. Fourier number is calculated by using equation (3)
8. Heat transfer coefficient is evaluated from equation (4)
9. Modelled data was prepared by using equation (5). For this average heat transfer coefficient
was evaluated.

Result and discussions:

Table 1: The values of heat transfer coefficient and Biot number and Fourier number obtained
Parameters Brass Steel
Heat Transfer coefficient 714.452(heating), 40.433(heating),
(W/m2K) 785.57(cooling) 176.570(cooling)
Biot number 0.06 0.02
Fourier number 17.96 18.874

5
 70 Heating
60
50 Brass @
40 60 C
Temp(˚C)
30
20 Stainless
10 steel @
60C
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Time (sec)
Figure 3: Heating profile for brass and stainless steel at @60°C

Heating Model
70.00
60.00
Brass @
50.00 60˚C
Temp(˚C)

40.00
30.00
20.00 Stainless
Steel
10.00
@60˚C
0.00
0 100 200 300 400 500
Time (sec)

Figure 4: Heating model profile for brass and stainless steel at @60°C

70
Cooling
60
Brass
50
Temp (˚C)

@ 27 ˚C
40
30
20 Stainles
s steel
10
@ 27 ˚C
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Time (sec)

Figure 5: Cooling profile for brass and stainless steel at @27°C

6
 Cooling Model
70.00
Brass
60.00 @27
Temp(˚C) 50.00 ˚C

40.00
30.00 Stainl
20.00 ess
steel
10.00 @ 27
0.00 ˚C
0 100 200 300 400
Time (sec)

Figure 6: Cooling model profile for brass and stainless steel at @27°C

Figure 3 and figure 5 represents the comparison between the two test cylinders based on their
heating and cooling profile respectively. Heating profile is plotted when bath temperature is
60°C whereas cooling profile at temperature 27°C.
Figure 4 and figure 5 also represents the comparison between the brass and stainless steel but
heating and cooling profiles are based on the model values generated by using the average value
of heat transfer coefficient and then substituting in equation (5).
From table (1), it is observed that the heat transfer coefficient is more for Brass as it is a good
conductor of heat. Stainless steel being an alloy, is a poor conductor of heat.

Conclusion and Recommendations:

The objective of this experiment was to calculate the heat transfer coefficient , Biot no and
Fourier no. To achieve the objective heat transfer unit apparatus was used. Since the modelled
data fits in the experimental data, we can conclude that the heat transfer values obtained are
correct. Brass has more heat transfer coefficient over stainless steel.

References:
1. Alan S. Foust, Leonard A. Wenzel, Curtis W. Clump, Louis Maus, L. Bryce Andersen
‘Principles of unit operations, 2nd Edition’
2. Don W. Green, Robert H. Perry ‘Perry’s Chemical engineer’s handbook, 8th Edition’
3. Yunus A. Cenjal, Afshin J. Ghajar, Heat and Mass Transfer

7
Appendix:

Table 2: Physical Properties of Brass and stainless steel

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES BRASS STAINLESS STEEL
Radius of cylinder (m) 0.019 0.019
Length of cylinder (m) 0.14 0.14
Density of cylinder (kg/m3) 8530 7900
Specific heat of cylinder (J/kg.K) 377 510
Thermal conductivity (W/m.K) 110 18
Thermal diffusivity (m2/s) 3.37E-05 2.28E-05

Table 3:Observations for Brass cylinder

BRASS
Heating Cooling
Time (sec) Temp (°C) Temp (°C)
0 28.7 58.4
10 31.9 56.1
20 37.8 50.7
30 43.2 46.5
60 50.9 38.3
90 53.9 33.9
120 54.9 32
150 55.6 30.4
180 56.2 30.1
210 56.9 29.7
240 57.3 29.3
270 57.6 28.7
300 57.8 28.6
330 58.2 28.4
390 58.7
420 58.8
450 58.8
510

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Table 4: Observations for Stainless steel cylinder
STAINLESS STEEL
Heating Cooling
Time (sec) Temp (°C) Temp (°C)
0 33 39.7
10 33.1 39.4
20 33.3 39
30 33.4 38.9
60 33.7 38.4
90 33.9 37.3
120 34 36.9
150 34.7 35.3
180 34.9 35.1
210 35.4 34.3
240 36.9 34.1
270 37.1 33.9
300 38.3 33.7
330 38.9 33.5
390 39.3 33.1
420 39.6
450
480
510

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 Table 5: Calculations and model evaluation of Brass @60°C
TS-TB/TS-T0 h Fourier No Biot No Exp model term Heating temp
W/ m2 °C °C
1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 31.300 28.70
0.90 658.96 0.93 0.06 27.846 32.15
0.71 1049.48 1.87 0.09 24.773 35.23
0.54 1267.30 2.80 0.11 22.039 37.96
0.29 1258.00 5.60 0.11 15.519 44.48
0.19 1110.21 8.40 0.10 10.927 49.07
0.16 923.83 11.20 0.08 7.694 52.31
0.14 799.20 14.00 0.07 5.418 54.58
0.12 715.76 16.80 0.06 3.815 56.19
0.10 672.75 19.60 0.06 2.686 57.31
0.09 623.83 22.40 0.05 1.891 58.11
0.08 581.17 25.20 0.05 1.332 58.67
0.07 540.77 28.01 0.05 0.938 59.06
0.06 528.76 30.81 0.05 0.660 59.34
0.04 498.40 36.41 0.04 0.327 59.67
0.04 474.44 39.21 0.04 0.231 59.77
0.04 442.81 42.01 0.04 0.162 59.84
714.45 17.96 0.06

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 Table 6: Calculations and model evaluation of stainless steel @60°C

TS-TB/TS-T0 h Fourier No Biot No Exp model term Heating temp

W/ m2 °C °C
1.00
1.00 28.405 0.632 0.015 26.858 33.142
0.99 42.766 1.263 0.023 26.716 33.284
0.99 38.086 1.895 0.020 26.576 33.424
0.97 33.514 3.789 0.018 26.158 33.842
0.97 28.836 5.684 0.015 25.747 34.253
0.96 24.075 7.579 0.013 25.342 34.658
0.94 33.189 9.474 0.018 24.943 35.057
0.93 31.033 11.368 0.016 24.551 35.449
0.91 33.934 13.263 0.018 24.165 35.835
0.86 49.760 15.158 0.026 23.785 36.215
0.85 46.696 17.053 0.025 23.412 36.588
0.80 55.761 18.947 0.029 23.043 36.957
0.78 57.196 20.842 0.030 22.681 37.319
0.77 52.153 24.632 0.028 21.974 38.026
0.76 51.089 26.526 0.027 21.628 38.372
40.433 11.874 0.021

Table 7: Calculations and model evaluation of Brass @27°C

TS-TB/TS-T0 h Exp model term Cooling temp
W/ m2K °C
1.00
0.93 464.79 -31.40 58.40
0.75 859.48 -31.40 58.40
0.62 970.26 -31.40 58.40
0.36 1040.75 -31.40 58.40
0.22 1028.72 -31.40 58.40
0.16 935.53 -31.40 58.40
0.11 905.52 -31.40 58.40
0.10 785.96 -31.40 58.40
0.09 713.87 -31.40 58.40
0.07 665.46 -31.40 58.40
0.05 659.92 -31.39 58.39
0.05 606.28 -31.39 58.39
0.04 575.89 -31.39 58.39

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Table 8: Calculations and model evaluation of Stainless steel @27°C
TS-TB/TS-T0 h Exp model term Cooling temp
W/m2 K °C
1
0.976 182.999 -12.410 39.410
0.945 217.004 -12.127 39.127
0.937 166.023 -11.851 38.851
0.898 137.777 -11.059 38.059
0.811 178.158 -10.319 37.319
0.780 158.886 -9.629 36.629
0.654 217.071 -8.986 35.986
0.638 191.266 -8.385 35.385
0.575 201.850 -7.824 34.824
0.559 185.479 -7.301 34.301
0.543 172.971 -6.813 33.813
0.528 163.180 -6.357 33.357
0.512 155.375 -5.932 32.932
0.480 143.938 -5.166 32.166

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