MEC4408 Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer Free Convection

Practice 5
1. A horizontal tube of 12.5-mm diameter with an outer surface temperature of 240 oC is located in a
room with an air temperature of 20oC. Estimate the heat transfer rate per unit length of the tube due to
free convection. [6 marks]

2. S1, 2016 (Q4B)

Figure Q3

The vertical 0.9-m-high, 1.8-m-wide double-pane window depicted in Figure Q3 consists of two
sheets of glass separated by a 3-cm air gap at atmospheric pressure. The glass surface temperatures
across the air gap are measured to be 15o C and 5o C . Assuming steady operating conditions are
achieved and neglecting the radiation heat transfer, determine the rate of heat transfer through the
window.
[9 marks]

Hint: For vertical rectangular enclosures, the Nusselt number is given by the following correlations:
Nu  0.42Ra1L 4 Pr 0.012  H L  ,
0.3
10  H / L  40, 10 4  Ra L  107 ,

Nu  0.46Ra 3L , 1  H / L  40, 106  Ra L  109 .

You have to have more than hope to get what you want in life. ~ Shannon L. Alder

School of Engineering, Monash University 1 S1 2019