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INDEX:
SR. NO. CONTENT PAGE NO.
1. LINE DIAGRAM 2
2. SPECIFICATIONS 3
3. INTRODUCTION 4–6
4. APPARATUS DESCIPTION 7
5. EXPERIMENTAL MANUAL 8 – 14
6. PROPERTIES OF AIR 15
7. PRECAUTIONS 16
8. WIRING DIAGRAM 17
9. NOMENCLATURE 18

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NATURAL CONVECTION APARATUS

MEASUREMENT APPARATUS
PIPE:
MOC: BRASS
T8 T7 D = 38 mm

T6

T5

500 mm
AIR T4

T3

T2

T1

HEAT TRANSFER IN NATURAL CONVECTION

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Experimentations/Learning Objectives:
• To study the temperature distribution along the length of vertical test pipe.
• To determine average surface heat transfer coefficient under natural convection.
• To conduct experiments at different temperature.
Utilities Required:
• Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220 V AC, 50 Hz, 5-15 Amp. Combined socket
with earth connection.
• Table for set-up support.
• Bench area: 1.25 m X 0.5 m
• Technical Data
• Test Section: Material-Brass, Diameter: 38 mm, Length:500 mm
• Heater: Nichrome Wire, 400 watt
• Temperature Sensors: RTD Pt-100 type - 8 Nos.
Control Panel
• PID Controller: 0-199.9 °C for controlling temperature
• Digital Temperature Indicator: 0-199.9°C with multi-channel switch
• Power measurement: By Watt-hour pulse indicator
• Standard make on/off switch, Mains Indicator etc.
• Powder coated duct of MS to accommodate the assembly with front window of
Acrylic
• An ENGLISH instruction manual consisting of experimental procedures, block
diagram etc. be provided along with the Apparatus.
• The whole set-up will be well designed and arranged on a rigid structure painted
with industrial PU Paint.

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INTRODUCTION:

When a hot body is exposed to air at room temperature. The density of the air very near

the plate will be less than that of the main body of the air, since the temperature of air

near the hot surface is more than in the bulk. Thus, buoyant forces cause an upward

flow of air near the surface. Heat is transmitted through gas layers and is carried away

by bulk motion or convection. Although both conduction and convection are involved,

this process is called Natural Free Convection. Design of fins for cooling the automobile

engines and calculation of optimum thickness of insulating materials to minimise the

heat losses, are examples where one requires the values of convective heat transfer

coefficients.

The fluid layer in contact with the hot body gets heated, rises up due to the decrease in

its density and the cold fluid rushes in to take place. The process continues and the

heat transfer takes place due to the relative motion of hot and cold fluid particles.

The heat transfer coefficient is given by:

h = q / [ AS * (Ts - Ta)]

Where,
h = Average surface heat transfer coefficient (kcal / hr.m2.oC),
AS = Area of heat transfer surface,
Ts = Average surface temperature,
Ta = Ambient temperature of the duct.

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 g * L3 *  * T C p  
n
h*L
= A*
k  2 k 
The surface heat transfer coefficient of a system transferring heat by natural convection
depends on the shape, dimensions and orientation of the fluid and the temperature
difference between heat transferring surface and the fluid. The dependence of h on all
the above-mentioned parameters is generally expressed in terms of non-dimensional
groups as follows:
Where,

hL / k = Nusselt number,

g L3  T / 2 = Grasshof number,

Cp  / k = Prandtl number.

Here,

A&n = constants depending on the shape and orientation of the heat

transferring surface.

L = A characteristic dimension of the surface.

k = Thermal conductivity of the fluid.

 = Dynamic viscosity of fluid.

CP = Specific heat of fluid.

 = Coefficient of volumetric expansion of fluid.

For gases,  = 1 / (Tf + 273)

Where, Tf = (Ts + Ta) / 2

g = Acceleration due to gravity.

T = Ts - Ta

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For a vertical cylinder losing heat by natural convection. The constants A and n have

been determined and the following empirical correlation obtained,

hL = 0.59 ( Gr * Pr ) 0.25 for 104 < Gr * Pr < 109

hL = 0.13 ( Gr * Pr )1/3 for 109 < Gr * Pr < 1012

Where L = Length of the cylinder

All the properties of fluid are determined at the mean film temperature Tf

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APPARATUS DESCRIPTION:
The apparatus consists of a Copper tube fitted in a rectangular duct in a vertical fashion.
The duct is open at the top and bottom and forms an enclosure and serves the purpose
of undisturbed surroundings. One side of the duct is made up of Perspex for
visualisation. An electric heating element is kept in the vertical tube which in turn heats
the tube surface. The heat is lost from the tube to the surroundings to the air by natural
convection. The temperature of vertical tube is measured by thermocouple. The heat
input to the tube is measured by an ammeter and voltmeter and is varied by dimmerstat.
The tube surface is polished to minimise the radiation losses.

Test Section:
Type : Vertical Cylinder
MOC : Copper
Dimension : 38 mm dia. * 500 mm long

Heated Assembly:
Capacity : 400 watt

Temperature Sensors:
Type : ‘J’ Thermocouple
Nos. : 8
8th no to measure the temperature of ambient air
Control Panel:
 Main ON/ OFF switch,
 8 Channel Digital Temperature Indicator with Selector Switch,
 Dimmerstat (0-5 Amp),
 Digital Voltmeter (0-250 V)
 Ammeter (0-5 Amp)

The whole assembly is covered with wooden rectangular Chamber (200 * 200
* 600 mm) with Perspex Cover on one side and Formica on all the other sides.
The total set up will be mounted on base plate with powder-coated panel and a
good quality painted stand.

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HEAT TRANSFER IN NATURAL COBVECTION

EXPERIMENTAL MANUAL
AIM:
To determine the surface heat transfer coefficient for a vertical tube losing
heat by natural convection.

PROCEDURE

 Insert male socket of control panel in to the power source.

 Arrange Test set-up in proper position.
 Start the main switch of control panel and switch ON the electric supply.
 Set desired temperature in PID by pressing Set key for 2 seconds and then
increase temperature by pressing up arrow key (˄) or decrease
temperature by pressing down arrow key (˅) provided beside set key on
the PID.
 Increase slowly the input to heater by the dimmerstat starting from 0 volts
position.
 See that this input remains constant throughout the experiment.
 Measure surface temperatures at the various points at T1 to T7.
 Note the ambient temperature T8.
 Go on checking the temperature at some specified time intervals say 10
minutes and continue this till a satisfactory steady state (i.e. No change in
temperature with respect to time – it will take about half an hour)
condition is reached.

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PRECAUTIONS:
 Keep the voltage regulator to 0-Watt position before switching ON the
main switch.
 Make sure that during the experimentation the dimerstat should not
operate on or above 2 Amp loads continuously for longer time.
 Increase the watt gradually of the heater during initial set-up
experimentation.
 Never use the heater at full watt for longer period of time.
 Use the proper range of ammeter and voltmeter.
 Operate the change over switch of temperature indicator gently from one
position to other, i.e. from 1 to 8 positions.

OBSERVATION:

Copper Cylinder Diameter (D) = 38 mm = 0.038 m2

Copper Cylinder Length (L) = 500 mm = 0.5 m2

Surface Heat Transfer Area (As) = π * D * L= 0.019 m2

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Observation Table:

Sr. No. (1) (2) (3)

Voltage (V) V 93.1
Current (Amp) I 1.02
Heat Input (W) Q=V*I 94.962
T1 57
Thermocouple Position

T2 70
Temperature (oC)

T3 96
T4 114
T5 114
T6 108
T7 99
T8 = Ambient
30
Temperature
Steady State
Ts =
Temperature of
T1+T2+T3+T4+T5+T6+T7 94
Copper Rod
/7
(oC)
Avg. Surface
Heat Transfer
H
Coefficient
(w/ m2 OC)
Theoretical
Heat Transfer
h
Coefficient
(w/m2 o C)

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CALCULATIONS:

Heat Input Q=V*I

= 93.1 * 1.02
Q = 94.962 Watt
Surface Area of Heat Transfer As =  D L
= 3.14 * 0.038 * 0.5
As = 0.059 m2
Steady State Temperature of Rod Ts = (T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5 + T6 + T7) / 7
Ts = 94 C
Neglecting end losses using the equation
Average surface heat transfer coefficient h = q / [As (Ts - Ta)]
= 94.962 / [0.059 (94 - 30)]
= 94.962 / [0.059 (63)]
= 94.962 / (3.717)
h = 25.1488 W/ m2 C
Where,

h = Average surface heat transfer coefficient (w/m2.0C)

AS= Area of heat transfer surface,

Ts = Average surface temperature,

Ta = Ambient temperature of the duct

For theoretical Value of surface heat transfer coefficient calculate the Grasshof

Number and the Prandtl Number.

The surface heat transfer coefficient of a system transferring heat by natural

convection depends on the shape, dimensions and orientation of the fluid and the

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temperature difference between heat transferring surface and the fluid. The

dependence of h on all the above-mentioned parameters is generally expressed

in terms of non-dimensional groups as follows:

 g * L3 *  * T C p  
n
h*L
= A*
k  2 k 

Where,
hL / k = Nusselt number,
L3  T / 2 = Grasshof number,
Cp  / k = Prandtl number.
A&n = Constants depending on the shape and orientation of the
heat Transferring surface.
L = A characteristic dimension of the surface = L1, L2 … L5 m
K = Thermal conductivity of the fluid = 0.0263 W/ m C
μ = Dynamic Viscosity of the Fluid = 18.35*10-6 N S/m2
 = Dynamic viscosity of fluid = 2.411*10-6 m2/s
CP = Specific heat of fluid = 1.005 KJ/kgC
 = Coefficient of volumetric expansion of fluid.

For gases,  = 1 / (Tf + 273)

= 1/ (62 + 273)
 = 0.0029 o C

Where, Tf = (Ts + Ta) / 2

= 94 + 30 / 2
Tf = 62 oC

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g Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81

T Ts - Ta = (94 - 30)
T = 64 oC

For a vertical cylinder losing heat by natural convection. The constants A and n have
been determined and the following empirical correlation obtained,

hL = 0.59 ( Gr * Pr ) 0.25 for 104 < Gr * Pr < 108

k
hL = 0.13 ( Gr * Pr )1/3 for 109 < Gr * Pr < 1012
k
Where L = Length of the cylinder

Grashoff Number Gr = g * L3 *  * T / 2
= 9.81*(0.5)3 * 0.0029 * 64 / (16x10-6)2
Gr = 5985325.443
Prandtl Number Pr = Cp * μ / K
= 1.005 * 20.1*10-6 / 0.029
Pr = 0.000695
Thus, Gr * Pr = 5985325.443 * 0.000695
Gr * Pr = 4169.19
So, hL = 0.59 (Gr * Pr) 0.25
K

hL/k = 0.59 * (4169.19)0.25

hL/k = 0.59 * (8.035) = 4.74 X k / 0.5
h = 0.2749 w/ m2 OC
Theoretical Heat Transfer Coefficient h = 0.2749 w/ m2 OC
All the properties of fluid are determined at the mean film temperature Tf.
Compare the experimentally obtained value with the correlation equation,

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RESULT:

Surface Area Practical Value of Theoretical Value

Characteristic of Heat the Surface Heat of the Surface Heat
Length of the Transfer Transfer Transfer
Copper Rod As =  D L Coefficient Coefficient
(m2) hPr (w/ m2 C) hTH (w/ m2 C)
500 mm 0.059 25.1488 0.2749

Why Theoretical Heat Transfer Coefficient is less than Practical Heat

Transfer Coefficient?
The very question of difference between ‘‘theoretical’ and ‘practical’ or ‘‘experimental’
values is based in old concepts. Such differences arise because of lack of total and
complete knowledge of materials and their exact properties and various such factors
effects of motion of mediums.

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PROPERTIES OF AIR

Specific Dynamic Thermal Prandtl Kinematic

Temperature Density
Heat Viscosity Conductivity number Viscosity
T  Cp  x 10-6 K Pr  x 10-6
C Kg/m3 KJ/kgC N-Sec/m2 W/mC m2/sec
0 1.293 1.005 17.2 0.0244 0.707 13.23
10 1.247 1.005 17.7 0.0251 0.705 14.16
20 1.205 1.005 18.1 0.0259 0.703 15.06
30 1.165 1.005 18.6 0.0267 0.701 16.00
40 1.128 1.005 19.1 0.0276 0.699 16.96
50 1.093 1.005 19.6 0.0283 0.698 17.95
60 1.060 1.005 20.1 0.0290 0.696 18.97
70 1.029 1.009 20.6 0.0297 0.694 20.02
80 1.000 1.009 21.1 0.0305 0.692 21.09
90 0.972 1.009 21.5 0.0313 0.690 22.10
100 0.946 1.009 21.9 0.0321 0.688 23.13
120 0.898 1.009 22.9 0.0334 0.686 25.45
140 0.854 1.013 23.7 0.0349 0.684 27.80
160 0.815 0.243 24.525 0.0313 0.682 30.09
180 0.779 0.244 25.310 0.0325 0.681 32.49
200 0.746 0.245 25.996 0.0338 0.680 34.85
250 0.646 0.248 27.370 0.0367 0.677 40.61
300 0.615 0.250 29.724 0.0396 0.674 48.33
350 0.566 0.253 31.392 0.0432 0.676 55.46
400 0.524 0.255 33.060 0.0448 0.678 63.09
500 0.456 0.261 36.199 0.0494 0.687 79.38
600 0.404 0.266 39.142 0.0535 0.699 96.89
700 0.362 0.271 41.790 0.0577 0.706 155.4
800 0.329 0.276 44.341 0.0617 0.713 134.8
900 0.301 0.280 46.695 0.0656 0.717 155.1
999 0.277 0.283 49.050 0.0694 0.719 177.1

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PRECAUTIONS:
• Keep the voltage regulator to 0 - Watt position before switching ON the
main switch.
• Make sure that during the experimentation the dimmerstat should not
operate on or above 2 amp loads continuously for longer time.
• Never use dimmerstat at full capacity.
• Never touch the rod after achieving desired temperature.
• After completion of practical remove the acrylic sheet to cool down the rod
fast.
• Increase the watt gradually of the heater during initial set-up
experimentation.
• Never use the heater at full watt for longer period of time.
• Operate the changeover switch of temperature indicator gently from one
position to other, i.e. from 1 to 8 positions.

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Nomenclature:

h = Average surface heat transfer coefficient (kcal / hr.m2.0C),

AS = Area of heat transfer surface,
Ts = Average surface temperature,
Ta = Ambient temperature of the duct.
L = Length of the cylinder
k = Thermal conductivity of the fluid.
 = Dynamic viscosity of fluid.
CP = Specific heat of fluid.
 = Coefficient of volumetric expansion of fluid.
Cp = Specific Heat
 = Dynamic Viscosity
T = Temperature
 = Density
K = Thermal Conductivity
Pr = Prandtl number
D = Diameter of the cylinder
L = Length of the cylinder
Gr = Grashoff Number
v = Kinematic Viscosity
hPr = Practical Value of the Surface Heat Transfer Coefficient
hth = Theoretical Value of the Surface Heat Transfer Coefficient
V = Voltage
I = Ampere
Q = Heat Input

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