EP329 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY VII

BEP3031 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT LABORATORY

NO. OF EXPERIMENT: 5
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: DEMONSTRATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN POWER INPUT & SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN FREE AND
FORCED CONVECTION
NAME: VINCENT ARTHUR
ID: 1001955087
GROUP: 5
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 13 July 2022
TUTOR: MS. RAFIZAH BINTI ZAITON; DR. SUM JING YAO; DR. LAI LI
SZE

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & BUILT
ENVIRONMENT

2022
Table of Contents

1.0 Problem Statement ....................................................................................................... 1

2.0 Hypothesis ..................................................................................................................... 1

3.0 Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 1

4.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2

5.0 Material and Apparatus .............................................................................................. 3

6.0 Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 3

7.0 Results and Calculation ............................................................................................... 4

8.0 Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 6

9.0 Limitation and Precautions ......................................................................................... 6

10.0 Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 7

11.0 References ..................................................................................................................... 7

12.0 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 8

13.0 Rubric ............................................................................................................................ 9

EXPERIMENT 5: DEMONSTRATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
POWER INPUT & SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN FREE AND FORCED
CONVECTION

1.0 Problem Statement

One method of heat transmission involves convection, which involves the
movement of large molecules inside liquids or gases. This phenomenon is prevalent in
daily life and is significant in all sectors of the economy. In this experiment, two
different forms of convection must be observed: forced convection and natural
convection. In this study on natural convection, the influence of heater power on plate
temperature is investigated, ranging from 20W to 80W. When using forced convection,
it is possible to see how the fan speed, which ranges from 0 m/s to 1.5 m/s, affects the
temperature of the plate.

2.0 Hypothesis
As the heater output increases under natural convection, the temperature will
rise. Because the heat from the heater will increase as the power input increases, the
temperature of the plate will be heated to a higher level. As a result, the surrounding air
lacks the power to cool down or maintain the plate temperature, causing temperature
variations between the ambient temperature and final temperature increase. When a
constant heater power is provided in forced convection, the temperature plate is
measured while varying fan speeds are used to either maintain or lower the plate
temperature. As the fan speed is increased, the final temperature will drop, resulting in
a decrease in the temperature difference between the final temperature and the ambient
temperature.

3.0 Objectives
• To demonstrate the relationship between power input and surface temperature
in free and forced convection.
• To analyze the effect of air velocity towards temperature in forced convection.
• To plot a graph of power vs temperature and air velocity vs temperature, and
to be able to operate the apparatus with proper precautions.

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4.0 Introduction
One of the crucial processes in the majority of industry and in everyday life is
heat transfer. Conduction, Convection, and Radiation are the three categories into
which heat transport may be divided. Convection is a method of heat transmission in
which fluids' bulk-moving molecules do the work. Natural and forced convection are
the two forms of convection (Calderado, 2022).
Natural convection, also known as free convection, results from buoyant forces
brought on by density variations brought on by fluid temperature fluctuations. The
molecules will ascend and be replaced by colder ones when the fluid density around the
heater changes, regenerating heat. Since colder molecules would replace the heated
ones and rise to the top, it turned into a cycle. There are no external sources, such as a
pump, fan, or suction device, in this method of heat transmission. By raising the heater's
power input from 20 to 80 Watts, this form of convection may be seen. A source outside
the fluid is used to drive the fluid's four molecules to move and promote heat
transmission in a process known as forced convection. Similar to natural convection,
forced convection also transfers heat by thermal diffusion, which involves the large-
scale movement of fluid currents. By raising the fan speed from 0 m/s to 1.5 m/s while
the plate was heated with a constant power input of 50 Watts, this form of convection
was seen (Nuclear Power, 2022).
Despite the intricacy of convection, it is recognized that the rate of convection
heat transfer (Q) is proportional to the temperature difference, and Newton's equation
of cooling provides a handy expression for this relationship as:
Q = hAs(Ts-T∞)
Where,
h is the convection heat transfer coefficient [W/m2].
As is the surface area through which convection heat transfer takes place.
Ts is the surface temperature.
T∞ is the temperature of the fluid sufficiently far from the surface or the
ambient air.
The tiny air movements caused by this heat restrict the pace at which heat may
flow off the surface in free convection. If the air velocity is raised over the heated
surface, more heat is transmitted. Forced ventilation refers to this practice of facilitating
air circulation over the hot surface (Holzner, 2016).

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5.0 Material and Apparatus
• Free and forced convection apparatus
• Stopwatch

Figure 1. Free and Forced Convection Apparatus

6.0 Procedure
A. Natural Convection
1. The fan assembly was removed from the top of the duct.
2. Finned heat exchanger was placed into the test duct.
3. The ambient temperature was recorded (TA).
4. The heater power was set to 20 Watts.
5. Let the temperature stabilized and record the temperature (TH).
6. The procedure was repeated for 40, 60, and 80 Watts.

B. Forced Convection
1. The fan assembly was placed on the top of the duct.
2. Finned heat exchanger was placed into the duct.
3. The ambient temperature was recorded (TA).
4. The heater power was set to 50 Watts.
5. Let the temperature stabilized before the nothing heated the plate temperature
(TH).
6. The fan speed was set at 0.5 m/s on thermal anemometer, let it stabilized and
record the temperature (TH).
7. The procedure was repeated at 1.0 m/s and 1.5m/s speed.

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7.0 Results and Calculation
A. Natural Convection

Power (W) 0 20 40 60 80
TA (oC) 23.6 23.4 23.0 23.0 22.8
TH (oC) 23.6 34.5 43.9 55.0 67.7
TH – TA (oC) 0 0.9 20.9 32.0 44.9
Table 1. Data Result for Experiment A

Plate Temperature vs Power Input

80
67.7
70

60 55
Plate Temperature (oC)

50 43.9

40 34.5

30 23.6

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Power (W)

Figure 2. Temperature vs Power Input Graph

Temperature Change vs Power

50 44.9

40
Temperature Change (TH - TA)

32

30
20.9
20

10

0 0.9
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

-10
Power (W)

Figure 3. Temperature Change vs Power Input Graph

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 B. Forced Convection
Air Velocity 0 0.5 1 1.5
(m/s)
Power (W) 50 50 50 50
TA (oC) 22.6 22.5 22.3 21.9
TH (oC) 64.5 61.6 55.1 44.3
TH – TA (oC) 41.9 39.1 32.8 22.4
Table 2. Data Result for Experiment B

Plate Temperature vs Air Velocity

70 64.5
61.6
60 55.1
Plate Temperature (OC)

50 44.3

40

30

20

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Air Velocity (m/s)

Figure 3. Temperature vs Air Velocity Graph

Temperature Change vs AIr Velocuty

50
45 41.9
39.1
Temperature Change (TH - TA)

40
32.8
35
30
25 22.4

20
15
10
5
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6
Air Velocity (m/s)

Figure 3. Temperature Change vs Air Velocity Graph

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8.0 Discussion
Ambient air temperature TA is the temperature of air when the heater hasn’t switched
on, which supposed to be at room temperature. The link between power and temperature is
found in the Nature Convection experiment. It uses a range of power input, starting at 20 Watts
and going up to 80 Watts. The heater will create more heat and transmit it to the plate as the
power input rises. Due to this, when power increases, the plate temperature keeps rising. It is
demonstrated by the graph in Figures 2 and 3. The curve of Plate Temperature vs. Power Input
is shown in Figure 2. The plate is heated from 23.4°C to 34.5°C at 20 Watts of electricity and
the plate is heated from 22.8°C to 67.7°C using 80 Watts of electricity. The temperature
changes (TH-TA) will also be enhanced since the plate temperature rises as power increases
while the ambient temperature remains constant. A graph of temperature change vs. power
input will be created when the temperature changes are compared, as seen in Figure 3. This
supports the idea that when temperatures rise, temperature variations likewise soar.
The primary distinction between free convection and forced convection is that in the
former, fluid molecules move as a result of temperature and density variations, whereas in the
latter, motion in fluid molecules is induced by an outside force.
In forced convection, a fan is utilized to propel air toward the plate while maintaining
a constant heater power of 50 Watts. As cold air is circulated over the plate by the fan, the
temperature of the plate will be reduced. The plate temperature (TH) and temperature variations
will decrease with increased fan speed. The plate temperature is around 64.5°C at 0 m/s fan
speed and gradually decreases to around 61.6°C at 0.5 m/s fan speed. While the plate
temperature drops to around 55.1°C at 1 m/s speed and to 44.3°C when the fan speed is raised
to 1.5 m/s. This shows that the heat transfer rate is declining as the air velocity increases.

9.0 Limitation and Precautions

There are several limitation and precaution in this experiment that may cause some
error value towards the data obtained.
1. The experiment must be done from lower heater power input to the higher heater
power input. It is because the apparatus might need time to cool down.
2. The power control needs to be turned carefully and ensure the power panel is showing
the power needed for the experiment.
3. The temperature needs long time to stabilized. In order to prevent any error occurs in
the result, the temperature must be in stable state before it recorded.

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 4. Ensure the fan is working properly during the experiment. In some cases, the fan
might not be working due to any mechanical error.
5. Students must be careful when handling the apparatus, especially the hot plate area.

10.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment supported the stated hypothesis as being true. The
temperature will rise with increased heater power, but it will fall with increased fan
speed. Both statements are supported by Figures 3 and 5. Experiment mistakes can
either mechanical or human mistake is the cause of the errors that are happening in the
experiment. In doing so students able illustrate the connection between power input and
surface area using an experiment. Understanding the relationship between air velocity
and temperature in free and forced convection would help ability to learn how to use
the device with forced convection and the ability to measure temperature necessary
safety measures.

11.0 References
• Calderado, S. (2022, February 27). /natural-forced-convection. Retrieved from
/study.com: https://study.com/learn/lesson/natural-forced-convection-
overview-examples.html
• Holzner, S. (2016, March 27). Transferring Heat through Convection: Natural
versus Forced. Retrieved from www.dummies.com:
https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-
arts/science/physics/transferring-heat-through-convection-natural-versus-
forced-174235/
• Nuclear Power. (2022). onvection-convective-heat-transfer. Retrieved from
www.nuclear-power.com: https://www.nuclear-power.com/nuclear-
engineering/heat-transfer/convection-convective-heat-transfer/natural-
convection-free-convection/
• Convective Heat Transfer. Engineering ToolBox. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29,
2022, from https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/convective-heat-transfer-
d_430.html
• Forced convection. Forced convection - Energy Education. (n.d.). Retrieved
March 29, 2022, from
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Forced_convection

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12.0 Appendix

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13.0 Rubric

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