Experiment

FREE AND FORCED CONVECTION

INTRODUCTION: -
In free convection, naturally-created small convective currents limit the heat transfer rate. As
input power increased, so did surface temperature and the convective currents. However, this
restriction prevents dissipating more power with a lower surface temperature for any given
surface. There for artificially increasing the air flow across the surface (using a fan) helps to
increase the heat transfer rate, giving a reduced surface temperature for any given power
input.

AIM: -
To compare the surface temperature of the heat transfer surface in free and force convection
for a fixed input power
To find the surface temperature

THEORY: -
Free convection
This is when the heat transfers from the object under influence of fluid (air) density changes.
The heat energy around the object causes the air density around the surface of the object to
the decrease. The reduced density air is more beyond than the surrounding air and rises,
transporting the heat energy away naturally in normal condition gravity is the main force
affecting buoyancy and therefore convection. However, when the object from part of a
rotating machine centrifugal force can be a driving force for convection.
Forced convection
This is when an external force moves air around or across the across. The movement of air
transports the heated air away from the object. The higher air velocity, the faster it transports
heat away from the object.
PROCEDURE
1) First of all, switch on the main power.
2) Fit your chosen heat transfer surface as shown into fit a heat transfer.
3) Create a blank result table, similar.
4) Make sure fan speed is set zero.
5) Switch on the heater and set it to 15W power.
6) Wait for temperature to stabilize and then take reading of the surface and inlet
temperature.
 7) Increase the fan speed to give an air velocity approximately 1m. s-1
8) Wait for the temperature to stabilize and then take the reading of the surface and inlet
temperature.
9) Switch off the heater and allow the surface to cool down to near ambient temperature
(use a fan to help cool down the surface if necessary).
10) Repeat for several more heated powers.
11) Switch off the heater and allow the surface to cool down to near ambient
temperatures.

FORMULAS: -
TD = TS – TIN
TS = Surface temperature [(T1+T2+T3)/3] in case of fin.
TIN = Air inlet temperature
TD = [(T1+T2+T3)/3] – T5
Where Tm = logarithmic mean temperature and Q is the heat flow from the surface to the air.

𝑇𝑂𝑈𝑇 − 𝑇𝐼𝑁
Tm = 𝑇𝑆− 𝑇 (Log is natural log loge or ln)
𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝐼𝑁
𝑇𝑆 −𝑇𝑂𝑈𝑇

HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT (CONVECTIVE) (hc)

Heat transfer coefficient is a material’s ability to conduct heat to another material.
Convective heat transfer occurs between the surface of a material and a moving fluid.
Typical values of heat transfer to air are:
5 to 25 W/m2K in free convection
10 to 200 W/m2K in forced convection
(Showing that heat transfers to air better in forced convection than it does in free convection).

Q
hc =
𝐴𝑆 × 𝑇𝑚

NOMENCLATURE: -
• T1 = Temperature at the top of fin.
• T2 = Temperature sensor at mid of fin.
• T3 = Temperature sensor at bottom of the fin.
 • T4 = Temperature sensor inside the plates in case of fin.
• T5 = Air inlet temperature (air entering in duct before heating models)
• T6 = Air outlet temperature (air exiting the duct after heating models)
• TD = Temperature difference of surface temperature and air inlet.
• Q = Heat input in Watt.
• Vel = Velocity of air in duct in m/sec.
• hc = Heat transfer coefficient in W/m2 oC.
• A2 = Total surface area of model in m2.

OBSEVATION TABLE: -

Sr. Surface Convection Volt Cur Vel T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

No.
(V) (I) m/s
1 Finned Free
2 plate Forced

CALCULATION TABLE: -

Sr. no Surface Wattage TD Tm (Mean hc (Heat transfer

(Temperature temperature) coefficient)
Difference)
W/m2 oC
1
Finned plate
2

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS :
RESULT:

INFERENCE:
HEAT TRANSFER SURFACES SPECIFICATION: -
EXPERIMENT DETAILS
Finned surface Base plate dimensions: 113mm×113mm×2mm
Flat plate with 9 fins at right angles to the plate
Fin material: Aluminium
Fin dimension: 113mm×73mm×2mm thick
Total surface area: 0.1659m2 (including ends of fins)

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP FOR FREE AND FORCE CONVECTION