Indian Institute of Technology Patna

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 315 Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory

Forced Convection

Submitted By-
G1-4

Anil Gour 2201ME10

Anirudh Singh 2201ME11
Ansh Singh 2201ME12
 OBJECTIVE:

To study forced convection in internal pipe flows with the objective of

determining the heat transfer coefficient and evaluating the effectiveness of the
heat transfer process.

THEORY:

Convection heat transfer occurs when heat is transferred by movement of a

fluid over a solid surface at a different temperature. When flow of the fluid
is caused by the external means such as pump or fan, the convection is
called forced convection, whereas if there is no external means to cause
the fluid flow, and the fluid motion is induced by the buoyancy force due to
temperature gradient then convection is called free or natural convection.

Regardless of the nature of the convection process, the heat transfer

rate due to convection is calculated from Newton’s Law of Cooling:

̇
Q = hA (Ts – Tα)

Forced convection involves fluid transport by methods other than that

resulting from variation of density with temperature. Movement of air by a
fan or of water by a pump are examples of forced convection. Forced
convection heat transfer from a solid surface can be done for external or
internal flow. In this experiment, the heat transfer coefficient in forced
convection is calculated for internal pipe flow. This type of configuration is
used for heating and cooling of fluids in several chemical processes and
energy conversion techniques.

Where,
Q̇ = Heat Transfer Rate (W)

A = Surface Area perpendicular to the heat transfer direction ( 𝑚2)

Ts = Temperature of solid surface (K)
Tα = Temperature of Ambient Fluid (K)
 2
h = Heat Transfer Coefficient (W/ k)

EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED:

Forced convection apparatus (Blower, heater, thermocouples, orifice meter,

U-tube manometer, test pipe)

Image taken from manual

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE APPARATUS:

The apparatus consists of a test pipe fitted with a blower. The external wall
of the test pipe is wrapped with a nichrome band heater. The blower is
used to blow the air through the pipe which guides the air flow. Inside,
there is insulation in the center of the box. Six thermocouples are
embedded in the wall of the pipe to measure the surface temperatures
(T1-T6) and two thermocouples are attached at the inlet and outlet of the
test pipe to measure the air inlet (T7) and outlet (T8) temperatures. The
input power of the heater is controlled by a dimmerstat and the power is
measured by voltmeter and ammeter. The air flow rate through the pipe is
measured by orifice meter and the water manometer fitted across the
orifice plate. The schematic of the setup has been attached (Figure 1).
PROCEDURE:

● Put on the main switch of the unit to supply power.

● Start the blower and adjust the air flow rate to the pipe with the valve
so that you get an appreciable difference in manometer level.
● Start the heater of the test pipe and adjust the input power with
the dimmerstat.
● Note down the heater input power in terms of voltage and current.
● Note down the readings of all 8 thermocouples at an interval of 5
minutes until the steady state is reached.
● Repeat the experiment for another higher flow rate of air.
● Make the dimmerstat to zero position and put ‘OFF’ the main switch.

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Voltage = 72 V
Current = 1.64 A
Height difference in water column = 12.5 cm

Time in Temperature in (℃)

min

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8

0 26 29 30 34 42 40 24 29

7 72 111 110 99 112 98 26 43

17 85 131 136 127 139 123 28 50

27 89 137 145 137 151 134 30 53

37 92 141 149 144 157 139 35 55

47 92 144 149 144 155 137 32 55

 57 92 147 148 144 155 137 31 55

67 92 139 148 143 155 137 31 55

CALCULATIONS:

Experimental Value:

Given that,
Internal diameter of the pipe section (d) = 0.036m
Length of the pipe section (L) = 0.45m
Diameter of the orifice (d0) = 0.014m
Discharge coefficient of orifice (Cd) = 0.65
Temperatures at surfaces of pipe are T1, T2 , T6
Inlet temperature of air = T7
Outlet temperature of air = T8

From Observation table,

Voltage = 74V
Current = 1.75A
Manometer reading(H) = 12.5 cm = 0.125m
Temperatures at steady state(@ t = 67min):
T1 = 92℃; T2 = 139℃; T3 = 148℃; T4 = 143℃
T5 = 155℃; T6 = 137℃; T7 = 31℃; T8= 55℃

Since the temperature remains constant around T = 67mins, we

consider it to be a steady state.

Bulk mean temperature of air :

T= 31 + 55
2
Tm = 43℃ = 316.15K
Volume flow rate of air

From manual, Cd = 0.65

2
Test pipe cross sectional area ( a ) = π𝑑

1 4
d = 0.036m
2 2
a = π(0.036)
= 1.02 10^-3 𝑚

2
Orifice plate cross sectional area ( a ) = π𝑑0
2 4
d0 = 0.014m
2 2
a= π(0.014)
= 1.54 10^-4 𝑚

Density of water(ρ ) = 1000 3

2
Acceleration due to gravity(g) = 9.81

Various properties of air are calculated at T = 316.15K from Table A.4

using interpolation between 300K and 350K.

From table A.4,

At T = 300K, ρ = 1.1614 3

At T = 350K, ρ =0.9950 3

Let ρa be density of air at 313.15K

By linear interpolation b/w 300K & 350K
350 − 300 = 350 − 316.15
0.9950 − 1.1614 0.9950 − ρ𝑎
3
a density of air = 1.107 kg/m^3
Substitute all above values in Qa formula
Mass flow rate of air (Ma) = ρa × Qa
Ma = 1. 107 × 4. 669 × 10^ − 3𝑘𝑔/𝑠
Ma = 5.167×10^-3 𝑘𝑔/𝑠
Amount of heat transfer by air, q = Ma.(Cp)a. ( T8 - T7 )
From table A.4,
At T = 300K, Cp = 1.007 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
At T = 350K, Cp = 1.009 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
Let, (Cp)a be specific heat of air at 316.15K
By linear interpolation b/w 300K & 350K
350 − 300 = 350 − 316.15
1.009 −1.007 1.009 − (𝐶𝑝)𝑎.
(Cp)a = 1.00764 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾
∴ q = (5. 167 × 10^ − 3 ). (1. 00764). (52 − 28) 𝑊
q = 124.955 W
2
Heat transfer coefficient, h = 𝑞

𝑊/𝑚 .𝐾
𝐴.(𝑇𝑠−𝑇𝑚)
2
Surface area(A) =
A = π × 0. 036 × 0. 45
2
A = 0.0509

Average surface temperature(T )= 𝑇1 + 𝑇2 + 𝑇3 + 𝑇4 + 𝑇5 + 𝑇6

s 6

T= 92 + 139 + 148 + 143 + 155 + 31

6
Ts = 118℃ = 391.15K
h = 124,955 2

exp 𝑊/𝑚 .𝐾
0.0509×(391.15 – 316.15)

∴The experimental value, = 32.732

Effectiveness of forced convection ( ) = 𝑞
𝑃
Power(P) = V.I
P = 74×1.75 = 129.5 𝑊
η= 𝑞 = 124.955 = 0.965
𝑃 129.5
∴ Effectiveness, η = 96.5%

Theoretical Value:

We know that, Nusselt number, Nud

= ℎ.𝑑
𝑘

Reynold’s number, Red = ρ.𝑢.𝑑

µ

Prandtl number, Pr = µ.𝐶𝑝

Velocity of fluid, u = 𝑄𝑎
𝑎1
From above calculations,
Qa = 4.669×10^-3

a1 = 1.02 ×10^-3 𝑚
u= 4.669×10^−3
𝑚 /𝑠 = 4.446 𝑚 /𝑠

From table A.4,

At T = 300K, µ = 184.6 ×10^-7 𝑊/𝑚. 𝐾

2
, k = 26.3 ×10^-3 At T = 350K, µ = 𝑊/𝑚. 𝐾
208.2 ×10^-7
2
, k = 30 ×10^-3

Let, µa be dynamic viscosity of air at 316.15K

ka be thermal conductivity of air at 321.65K
By linear interpolation b/w 300K & 350K
350 − 300 = 350 − 316.15
(208.2×10^−7 )−(184.6×10^−7 )
 (208.2×10^−7 )− µ𝑎
µa = 192.22 ×10^-7 𝑁. 𝑠/𝑚
Similarly, 350 − 300
(30×10^−3 )−(26.3×10^−3 )
= 350 − 316.15
(30×10^−3 )− 𝑘𝑎
ka = 27.4×10^-3 𝑊/𝑚. 𝐾

By substituting above values in formula

Diameter of pipe, d = 0.036m
3

(Cp)a = 1.00786 𝑘𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾= 1.00786 ×10^3 𝐽/𝑘𝑔. 𝐾

Re = ρ.𝑢.𝑑 = 1.107×4.446×0.036 = 9217.66

d
µ 192.22 ×10^−7

Pr = µ.𝐶𝑝 = 192.22 ×10^−7 × 1.00764×10^3 = 0.7068

𝑘 27.4×10^−3
Since reynold’s number Red= 9217.66 > 2300, flow is turbulent
Hence, the correlation between Nud , Red , Pr is
Nud= 0.023 ×(Red)4/5×(Pr)2/5
Nud= 0.023 ×(9217.66)4/5×(0.7068)2/5
Nud= 29.72
h = 𝑁𝑢.𝑘 = 29.72×27.4×10^−3 = 23.62 2
𝑊/ . 𝐾
th 𝑑 0.036

∴The theoretical value,

Percentage error obtained in convection heat transfer coefficient(h),

% error = ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝− ℎ𝑡ℎ ×
ℎ𝑡ℎ
100 = 32.732 − 22.62 ×
22.62
100
∴ The percentage error = 44.7﹪

RESULTS:

Effectiveness, η = 96.5%

The experimental value,

The theoretical value,
The percentage error in h = 44.7﹪

DISCUSSION:

● For forced convection to happen, an external agency is

always required. In this experiment the external agency is the
blower.
● Heat exchanger tube is thermally insulated outside to prevent
heat transfer losses to the atmosphere.
● The experiment was conducted considering constant fluid properties
(for air). And the properties would be calculated at the bulk mean
temperature of air. (𝑇 ) [values are taken from table A.4].
𝑚
● In the readings, there is an ambiguity at T4 and T6. Generally, the
temperature should gradually increase from T1 to T6 , but at T4 and
T6 the temperatures suddenly decrease. It can be concluded that the
thermocouples T4 and T6 are faulty.
● We see that the effectiveness of forced convection is 97.5%
because there is heat loss in other forms like dissipation between
heater band and pipe, contact resistance, etc.
● The accuracy of the result can be increased by increasing the
number of sensors along the length of the pipe, as it will produce
more observational data about the heat transferred to the
atmosphere via forced convection.
2
● The experimental heat transfer coefficient is 28.075 (with
21.33%error) which is relatively higher for air. This is because of
the turbulent mixing in the forced convection, which increases heat
transfer coefficient.

SOURCES OF ERROR:
 ● Since the thermocouples are placed on the pipe, and not in
complete contact with air, there will be some errors in readings as
the thermocouples receive heat from the heater surface also.
● Since the thermocouples may be worn down due to repeated usage,
they may have errors in reading like we observed in the
thermocouple (T4).
● Since we have not considered insulation, there might be some errors
in temperature readings.
● Fluctuation in power supply can cause errors in voltage and current
readings.
● There is a chance of error in air flow rate due to loosening of the
air valve after continuous usage.
● Parallax error in the measurement of manometer height.
● Contact resistance between the sensors and wall of pipe is not
considered as there is no such data available. This might lead
to some error in our results.

CONCLUSION:

We can conclude from the experimental observations , that the value of

2
heat transfer coefficient (h) in forced convection is 28.075 with
effectiveness of (η) 97.5% . The experimental value of heat transfer
coefficient has 21.33% error corresponding to the theoretical value of
2
heat transfer coefficient which is 23.14 .

PRECAUTIONS:

● Keep the dimmerstat at zero position before switching on the

power supply.
● Operate the dimmerstat gently and increase the voltage gradually.
● Do not stop the blower in between the experimenting period.
● Operate the temperature indicator switch gently.
● Never apply the input voltage beyond 100 Volts to the heater.
● Check the airflow valve before the experiment.
● Check if the manometer is working properly and the lengths are
equal in both sides , before the start of the experiment.
● Keep the tube dust free.