HEAT TRANSFER IN NATURAL CONVECTION

OBJECTIVE

Study of heat transfer in natural convection process, and determination of the Heat
transfer coefficient of heated vertical cylinder, which is exposed to atmosphere.

DESCRIPTION

The apparatus consists of a brass 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 surrounding. One side of it is made up of glass/acrylic for visualization. A
heating element is kept in the vertical tube, which heats the tube surface. The heat is lost from
the tube to the surrounding air by natural convection, because the air in contact with the
cylinder gets heated and becomes less dense, causing it to rise. This in turn creates a
continuous flow of air upward in the duct. Digital Temperature Indicator measures the
temperature at the different points with the help of seven temperature sensors installed at
equal distance of 62.5 mm each. The heat input to the heater is measured by Digital Ammeter
and Digital Voltmeter and can be varied by a dimmer stat.

THEORY

When a hot body is kept in a still atmosphere, heat is transferred to the surrounding
fluid by natural convection. The fluid layer in contact with the hot body gets heated, rises up
due to the decrease in its density and the cold surrounding fluid rushes in to take its place.
The process is continuous and heat transfer takes place due to the relative motion of hot and
cold particles.

The heat transfer coefficient is given by:

q
h= -------------
As(Ts-Ta)
Here,
h= Average surface heat transfer coefficient
q= Heat transfer rate
As= Area of heat transferring surface
Ts= Average surface temperature (0c)
Where,
T1+T2+T3+T4+T5+T6+T7
Ts= ----------------------------------
7
Ta= Ambient temperature in the duct (0C) = T8

The surface heat transfer coefficient of a system transferring heat by natural convection
depends on the shape, dimensions and orientation of the body, the temperature difference
between the hot body and the surrounding fluid and fluid properties like k, µ,ρ etc. The
dependency of ‘h’ on all the above mentioned parameters is generally expressed in terms of
non dimensional groups, as follows;
 hL gLc3β∆T µ Cp
----- = A[{ ------------ }{--------- } ]n
k v2 k
Here,
hL
------ is called the Nusselt Number ( Nu),
k
gL3β∆T
---------- is called the Grashoff Number (Gr) and,
v2
µ Cp
-------- is called the Prandtl Number
k
A and n are constants depending on the shape and orientation of the heat transferring
surface.
Lc is a characteristic dimension of the surface,
k is the thermal conductivity of the fluid,
v is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid,
µ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid,
Cp is the specific heat of the fluid,
β is the coefficient of volumetric expansion of the fluid,
g is the acceleration due to the gravity at the place of experiment,
∆T = Ts –Ta
1
For gases, β = --------- K-1
Tf+273
Ts + Ta
Where, Tf = mean film temperature = ---------
2
For a vertical cylinder losing heat by natural convection, the constants A and n of
equation (3) have been determined and the following empirical correlations have been
obtained:
hthL
Nu = ------- = 0.59 (Gr. Pr) 0.25, for 104˂ Gr. Pr ˂109
k

hthL
Nu = ------- = 0.59 (Gr. Pr) 1/3, for 109˂ Gr. Pr ˂1012
k
Here, L is the length of cylinder and hth is theoretical heat transfer coefficient.
All the properties of the fluid are evaluated at the mean film temperature (Tf)
PROCEDURE

• Switch on the panel with the help of Mains On/Off Switch given on the panel.
• Fix the power input to the Heater with the help of Variac, Voltmeter and ammeter
provided.
• After 30 minutes record the temperature of Test Section at various points in each 5
minutes interval.
• If temperature readings are same for three times, assume that steady state is
achieved.
• Record the final temperatures.
• When experiment is over switch off heater first and then adjust Variac at zero.

PRECAUTIONS

• Voltage to heater starts and increases slowly.

• Operate selector switch of Temperature Indicator gently.

OBSERVATIONS

V(Voltage)= I(Current)=

TIME Surface Temperature (0C) Ambient

(Min) Temp(0C)
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
FORMULAS

q
Heat Transfer coefficient, h = --------------- Watt / m2 0c
A (Ts – Ta)

Heat Input, q = VxI Watt

Heat Transfer Area, A = πdL m2

T1+T2+T3+T4+T5+T6+T7
Mean Surface Temperature, Ts=-------------------------------------- 0C
7

CALCULATIONS

• Calculate the value of average surface heat transfer coefficient and compare it
with theoretically predicted value.
• Calculate the local heat transfer coefficient along the height of the tube using
temperatures T1 to T7.

GRAPH

• Show variation of the temperature along the height of the tube.

• Show variation of the local heat transfer coefficient along the height of the tube.

DATA

Outer diameter of the Cylinder, d = 38 mm

Length of Cylinder, L = 500 mm
Thermal Conductivity of Air, k = 0.02685 W/mK
Kinematic Viscosity of Air, v = 16.5 x 10-6 m2/s
Prandtl Number of Air, Pr = 0.7