Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Assignment 01
SECTION A – TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT

Module HEAT ENGINES AND HEAT Module ME3312

Title TRANSFER DEVICES Code
Test FREE AND FORCED Test 01
topics CONVECTION ON FLAT AND Number
PINED HEAT EXCHANGES
Student’s [Link] Thathsara Bandara Student’s M20010214004
Name Number
Lecturer’s [Link] Date & 14th August 2023
Name Time
I confirm that:
• I have been given a copy of the assessment criteria relating to this test
• I understand the meaning of the terms Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism

Signature: Date

SECTION B – TO BE COMPLETED BY MODULE LEADER/TEAM

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ME3312- HEAT ENGINES AND HEAT TRANSFER DEVICES

FREE AND FORCED CONVECTION ON

FLAT, PINNED AND FINNED HEAT EXCHANGES

SUBMISSION DATE-19.08.2023

BY

NAME: K. THAMINDU THATHSARA BANDARA

STUDENT ID:M20010214004
DEPARTMENT: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
BATCH: 04
• EXPERIMENT:

Free and Forced convection on Flat, Finned and pinned Heat Exchangers

• AIMS:

➢ To compare the maximum temperature each surface reaches for a given input power
when in free convection.
➢ To show how increased air flow improves the effectiveness of heat transfer.

• INTRODUCTION:

Engineers learning about thermodynamics and heat transfer need to know how well
different surfaces and shapes convect heat. They can use this information to predict
how heat energy convects from the surfaces of their own designs and which surface
works best for any given purpose.

• APPARATUS

The experiment is set up to look at different designs of heat exchanger and see how
the different designs affected the rate of heat transfer in free and forced convection.
Another variable to be looked at is using different air velocities over the heat
exchangers, to determine the effect forced convection had on the heat transfer.

The experimental apparatus used are:

• TQ TD1005 Free and Forced Convection experimental unit.

• K type thermocouples for T2 and T3 readings (Displayed resolution is 0.1 0C)
• Air flow sensor
• Motor and fan
• Duct
• Flat interchangeable heater plate (Total surface area = 0.0112 m2)
• K type thermocouples for T1 reading (Displayed resolution is 0.1 0C)
• Pinned interchangeable heater plate (Total surface area = 0.027 m2)
• K type thermocouples for T1 reading (Displayed resolution is 0.1 0C)
• Finned interchangeable heater plate (Total surface area = 0.092 m2)
• K type thermocouples for T1 reading (Displayed resolution is 0.1 0C)
• Versatile Data Acquisition system (VDAS) connected with a PC.

• TQ TD1005 Free and Forced Convection experimental uni

a. Interchangeable heater plates

Flat Finned Pinned

Compact bench mounting frame was the main unit that was connected to a suitable
electrical supply. A vertical duct assembly and a main control panel with electrical
controls and displays were connected to it.

Each of the three heat transfer surfaces fit into the back of the vertical duct, at Just above
halfway up the duct.

The vertical duct allowed air to pass over the heat transfer surface, both by free
convection, and by forced convection using a removable variable electric fan at the top of
the duct. A fixed thermocouple probe measures the inlet (ambient) air temperature in the
duct. A movable thermocouple probe in a traversing mechanism allows measurement of
the temperature distribution across the duct at the outlet. An anemometer measures air
velocity in the duct.

Each heat transfer surface includes a built-in thermocouple measure its surface
temperature. The equipment also includes a handheld thermocouple probe for heat
distribution measurement along the finned and pinned heat transfer surfaces. The probe
tip can be inserted into a selection of six equally spaced holes in the side of the duct. A
magnetic cover allows the holes to be covered completely or so that only one at a time
can be used, reducing stray convection by the other holes.

The thermocouples in the duct and the thermocouple on the heat transfer surface connect
to sockets on the front of the control panel. For heat distribution experiments with the
handheld probe, it can be connected to any unused thermocouple socket. A display on the
control panel shows the electrical power supplied to the heater in the heat transfer surface,
the air velocity in the duct and the temperature at each of the three thermocouples
connected.

A socket on the control panel allows connection to VDAS data acquisition system with
the use of a suitable computer.

b. PROCEDURE:

Experiment 1: Free convection - Quick comparison

1. This experiment works for all three heat transfer surfaces

2. Turn the fan speed to minimum. Disconnect the base unit electrical supply and
unplug the fan supply Plug.
3. Undo the fixings that hold the fan and carefully lower the fan to the desk or
workbench.
4. Set the heater control to minimum and switch off the heater.
5. Carefully insert the Flat Heat Transfer Surface into the squire hole in the duct and
secure it with the four thumbscrews supplied.
6. Connect the heater and thermocouple cables between the heat transfer surface and
the sockets on the control panel.
7. Create a blank observation table similar to table 1 given below. (If using the data
acquisition system, the software will create a table automatically when readings
start being taken.)
8. Take readings of the surface and inlet temperatures.
9. Find a stopwatch or other suitable timing instrument. Switch on the heater and
quickly set it to 90 W power, Then start the timer. (If using the data acquisition
system, the timed data capture feature works well for this experiment)
10. Record the surface and inlet temperatures at intervals of ten seconds until the
surface temperature reaches approximately 90 0C.
11. Switch off the heater, set the heater control to minimum and allow the surface to
cool down to near ambient temperature.
12. Repeat the experiment for the other heat transfer surfaces.
c. Experiment 2: Forced convection - Effect of velocity

This experiment works for both the finned and pinned heat transfer surfaces.

1. Disconnect the base unit electrical supply and make sure the fan speed control is set to
minimum. (Fully anticlockwise)
2. Carefully fit the fan to the top of the duct and secure it with the eight fixings supplied.
3. Connect the fan supply plug to its socket in the back of the base unit.
4. Carefully insert the Finned or Pinned Heat Transfer Surface into the squire hole in the
duct and secure it with the four thumbscrews supplied.
5. Connect the heater and thermocouple cables between the heat transfer surface and the
sockets on the control panel.
6. Create a blank observation table like table 2 given below. (If using the data
acquisition system, the software will create a table automatically when readings start
being taken.)
7. Set the fan to give an air velocity of 1 m s-1.
8. Set the heater power to 50 W.
9. Wait for the temperature to stabilise.
10. Record the surface and inlet temperatures.
11. Repeat for increased air velocities approximately 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 m s-1
12. Repeat for the other surface.

d. OBSERVATIONS

The observations were done regarding the Comparison of the maximum temperature on
each surface reaches for a given input power when in free convection and to show how
increased air flow improves the effectiveness of heat transfer.

The following tables show the data collected when each plate in placed in the TQ
TD1005 Free and Forced Convection experimental unit. 1st the flat surface, 2nd the
fined surface and last the pinned surfaced heating plates in order.
TASK A: \Provide an explanation of natural convection and forced convection in thermodynamics and
fluids for engineering products; include appropriate images to support your discussion.

NATURAL CONVECTION

In natural convection method heat transfer in means of natural impacts of moving

fluids. No external forces interfere in the convection phenomena. When a molecule of
a fluid is heated it becomes less dense. Because of this lowering of density, the less
dense particles move upward while the higher dense particles move down. This
process of cycle mainly happens due to thermal expansion.

Mechanism of natural convection

Examples for natural convection.

1. cooling down a boiled egg when kept in the normal air.

2. loss of cool of a cool drink can.

“When considering the mechanism of natural convection, first, the temperature of

the outside of a hot object (kept in cold air) drops down. At the same time, the
temperature of the air adjacent to the object will rise due to heat transfer. Then the
density of this adjacent layer of air decreases. As a result, the air rises upward.
Cold air will replace this region. Then the convection continues. In the end, the
object will cool down.”
 FORCED CONVECTION
When an external force impact with the heat transfer between the heated object and
the surrounding, it’s called forced Convection. External forces such as pumping, fans,
suction devices can be considered.
“When considering the mechanism of forced convection, it is having a complicated
mechanism than the natural way. That is because, in this method, we have to regulate
two factors: fluid motion and heat conduction. These two factors have a strong
connection since the fluid motion can enhance the heat transfer. Ex: higher the rate of
motion of the fluid, higher the heat transfers.”

Examples for forced convection

1. air conditioning.
2. steam turbines.
3. Radiators in fridges.

e. REFFERENCES FOR TASK A

1. [Link]
convection/
2. [Link]
coefficient
Task B: Produce a lab report.
• Free convection
1. Flat surface

Heat Transfer Surface: Flat surface

(Power = 90 W)
T1 T2 T3
Time Air velocity Power
Duct Traverse Duct inlet
(Seconds) 0
Surface ( C) /(m s-1) /W
Probe (0C) (ambient) (0C)
0 27.2 27.2 25.9 0.0 0.6
10 27.8 27.1 25.8 0.0 85.4
20 31.8 27.1 25.8 0.0 81.9
30 36.9 27.1 25.8 0.1 86.1
40 43.3 27.1 25.8 0.1 90.3
50 49.2 27.1 25.7 0.0 89.8
60 55.1 27.2 25.8 0.0 89.9
70 60.8 27.2 25.7 0.0 89.7
80 67.0 27.3 25.7 0.1 89.4
90 72.3 27.3 25.7 0.1 89.7
100 77.4 27.2 25.7 0.1 89.8
110 82.9 27.3 25.7 0.1 89.6
120 87.6 27.3 25.7 0.1 89.4
130 92.2 27.2 25.7 0.1 89.2
140 - - - - -
150 - - - - -
160 - - - - -
170 - - - - -
180 - - - - -
190 - - - - -
200 - - - - -

2. Finned surface

Heat Transfer Surface: Finned surface

(Power = 90 W)
T1 T2 T3
Time Air velocity Power
Duct Traverse Duct inlet
(Seconds) 0
Surface ( C) /(m s-1) /W
Probe (0C) (ambient) (0C)
0 25.8 27.2 25.4 0.0 0.0
10 26.0 27.2 25.4 0.0 80.7
20 28.7 27.1 25.4 0.0 91.1
30 33.3 27.1 25.4 0.0 89.2
40 38.9 27.2 25.4 0.0 89.7
50 43.5 27.2 25.4 0.0 90.2
60 48.0 27.2 25.3 0.0 90.0
 70 52.2 27.3 25.3 0.0 89.8
80 56.7 27.3 25.3 0.0 89.7
90 60.4 27.2 25.3 0.1 89.5
100 64.0 27.2 25.3 0.1 89.4
110 67.4 27.3 25.2 0.0 89.2
120 71.0 27.3 25.2 0.1 89.6
130 74.1 27.2 25.2 0.1 89.5
140 77.0 27.3 25.2 0.1 89.4
150 80.1 27.2 25.2 0.1 89.3
160 82.8 27.3 25.2 0.1 89.2
170 85.4 27.3 25.1 0.1 89.1
180 87.9 27.4 25.1 0.1 89.0
190 90.6 27.4 25.1 0.1 90.0
200 - - - - -

3. Pinned surface

Heat Transfer Surface: Pinned surface

(Power = 90 W)
T1 T2 T3
Time Air velocity Power
Duct Traverse Duct inlet
(Seconds) Surface ( C)0 /(m s-1) /W
Probe (0C) (ambient) (0C)
0 26.5 27.1 25.2 0.0 0.0
10 26.9 27.0 25.1 0.0 83.7
20 30.2 27.0 25.1 0.0 90.2
30 34.6 26.9 25.1 0.0 89.9
40 38.7 26.9 25.1 0.0 89.8
50 42.9 27.0 25.1 0.0 90.1
60 46.3 27.0 25.1 0.0 89.9
70 49.4 27.1 25.1 0.0 89.8
80 52.3 27.2 25.1 0.0 89.7
90 55.2 27.2 25.1 0.0 90.2
100 57.7 27.2 25.1 0.1 90.1
110 60.0 27.2 25.0 0.0 90.0
120 62.5 27.3 25.1 0.1 89.9
130 64.6 27.3 25.0 0.0 89.8
140 66.5 27.5 25.0 0.1 89.7
150 68.6 27.5 25.1 0.1 89.6
160 70.4 27.6 25.1 0.1 89.6
170 72.0 27.6 25.1 0.1 89.5
180 73.6 27.6 25.0 0.1 89.4
190 75.2 27.7 25.0 0.1 89.4
200 76.9 28.0 25.0 0.1 89.3
210 78.3 28.1 25.0 0.1 89.3
220 79.6 28.4 25.0 0.1 89.2
 230 81.1 28.6 25.0 0.1 89.2
240 82.4 28.8 25.0 0.1 89.1
250 83.6 29.0 25.0 0.1 89.1
260 84.9 29.3 25.0 0.1 89.0
270 86.0 29.5 24.9 0.1 89.0
280 87.1 29.6 25.0 0.1 88.9
290 88.2 29.8 25.0 0.1 88.9
300 89.4 30.0 24.9 0.1 88.8
310 90.4 30.0 25.0 0.1 89.1

In natural convection no fans are connected to the apparatus. Because of that the air flow is
maximum at 0.1ms-1 and didn't change.

When a graph is used to represent the heat exchange, we need to get the temperature
difference between T1 and T3 in vertical axis and Time taken in Horizontal axis as follows.

Time Temperature Temperature difference Temperature difference

difference for flat for finned surface. for pinned surface.
surface. (T1-T3) (T1- T3 ) (T1- T3 )
0 1.3 0.4 1.3
10 2 0.6 1.8
20 6 3.3 5.1
30 11.1 7.9 9.5
40 17.5 13.5 13.6
50 23.5 18.1 17.8
60 29.3 22.7 21.2
70 35.1 26.9 24.3
80 41.3 31.4 27.2
90 46.6 35.1 30.1
100 51.7 38.7 32.6
110 57.2 42.2 35
120 61.9 45.8 37.4
130 66.5 48.9 39.6
140 - 51.8 41.5
150 - 54.9 43.5
160 - 57.6 45.3
170 - 60.3 46.9
180 - 62.8 48.6
190 - 65.5 50.2
200 - - 51.9
210 - - 53.3
220 - - 54.6
230 - - 56.1
240 - - 57.4
250 - - 58.6
260 - - 59.9
270 - - 61.1
280 - - 62.1
290 - - 63.2
300 - - 64.5
310 - - 65.4
 Temperature (T1-T3) Vs Time(S) Curve for Natural (Free) convection

70

60

50

40
Time(s)

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130
flat 1.3 2 6 11.1 17.5 23.5 29.3 35.1 41.3 46.6 51.7 57.2 61.9 66.5
finned 0.4 0.6 3.3 7.9 13.5 18.1 22.7 26.9 31.4 35.1 38.7 42.2 45.8 48.9
piinned 1.3 1.8 5.1 9.5 13.6 17.8 21.2 24.3 27.2 30.1 32.6 35 37.4 39.6
Temperature differnece(֯ C)

• Forced convection.

In forced convection the main variables are Temperature (T1-T3 ֯C) and Air velocity(ms-1).

Pinned surface (force convection)

T1-T3 (0C) Air Velocity (ms-1)

45.5 1.0

38.9 1.5

34.4 2.0

32.5 2.5

30 3.0
 Finned surface (force convection)

T1-T3 (0C) Air Velocity (ms-1)

72.5 1.0

65.5 1.5

58.2 2.0

49.3 2.5

46.4 3.0

forced convection differs with according to Temperature (T1-T3) & Air flow velocity (ms-1).

This phenomenon could be graphed as shown below.

140

120 72.5

65.5
100
58.2
Temperature(֯C)

80 49.3
46.4

60

45.5
40 38.9
34.4 32.5 30
20

0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3
finned 72.5 65.5 58.2 49.3 46.4
Pinned 45.5 38.9 34.4 32.5 30
Air Velocity(ms-1)

Pinned finned
DISCUSSION

When using the interchangeable heat plates for the experiment, it was needed to cool
it down to the normal temperatures after using it for free convection and ready it for
the forced convection experiments.

In That situation, we didn’t check the temperature of them with an aid of a

temperature measuring device (Thermometer) and assumed that the inside core
temperature and surface temperatures are the same by the feel of touch.

And there was no exact amount of power / heat supplied to the plates. It changed with
the time slightly a decimal down or up the required value.

CONCLUSION

By comparing the Graphs of both natural and forced convection. The free convection
was calculated according to values recorded for time and the temperature difference
and for forced convection we took temperature recordings and air flow velocity.
In these graphs We need to consider the temperature differences.
In Free convection the temperature difference increase with the time and in forced
convection it comes to a constant values with time.
So, we can conclude that the most effective method of heat exchange is done when
forced convection was occurring.
And least convection was being done in natural convection as regarding to the
assumptions that were made in the discussion part.
TASK C: Research into whether any laws of cooling, calculations or software are
available that could be used by engineers to provide theoretical calculations and
modeling software to support the practical test results.
Explain how these could be used in practice and provide appropriate images.
Please reference your findings for this section

When researching about the laws relating to cooling its very much essential to
maintain the required ambience temperatures and other required factors to get correct
data for calculations
In real world situations its very difficult to keep these factors in constant values due to
changes in the surroundings.
For that reason, there are software that could be used for this kind of practical
situation. The accuracy of these software is so close to the real world senarios.
Example software.
a. Ansys
 b. Solid works

Or else we case use equations for solving the practical situations by applying the suitable and
necessary essential factors .

a. Newton’s law of cooling.

“The rate at which an exposed body changes temperature through
radiation, which is approximately proportional to the difference between
the object’s temperature and its surroundings, provided the difference is
small,

References for Task C

a. [Link]
b. [Link]
c. [Link]