The University of Jordan School of Engineering

Chemical Engineering Department

Chemical Engineering Laboratory (1) 0915361

Section no. (2)

Experiment no. (9)

Free and forced convection

Short report

Student Name Registration Number

1 Abdallah Ahmad Mahmoud Alqam 0198749
2 Fatima Munzer Suliman Al-Darabkeh 0194466
3 Loiy Mohammad Jum'Ah Alshawabkeh 0191804
4 Malak Ghassan Mahmoud AL-Dawoud 0197630

Instructor’s Name: Prof.Khaled Rawajfeh.

Date of Submission: 9/5/2023

Abstract

In free and forced convection experiment we studied how heat convects from a
choice of three different surfaces (flat plate, pinned surface and finned surface) both
are under free convection and forced convection.

We want to determine free and forced convection heat transfer coefficient.

At the first we ran the experiment when the heat transfer from the object under
the influence of air density changes (free convection) we removed the fan from the
top of the duct and sat the heater to specific power and waited for the temperature
to stabilize and recorded the values of inlet temperature surface temperature and
outlet temperature we repeated that with changing the value of power.

After that we used force convection method this is when an external force moves
air around or across the surface. The movement of air transports the heated air
away from the object. The higher the air velocity the faster it transports heat away
from the object.

We fitted the fan on the top of the duct and sat the power at specific value and
changed the air flow and waited for the temperature to stabilize after that we
recorded the value of of inlet temperature, surface temperature and outlet
temperature.

Finally, we made experiment 3 (heat transfer coefficient). This experiment works

for all three heat transfer surfaces and for both free and forced convection. We
removed the fan from the top of the duct and sat the heater to a specific value and
moved the duct Travers probe so its read zero and moved it 10 mm and we waited
for temperature to stabilize and then recorded the temperature outlet and we
repeated that by raise the value of the duct Travers probe.

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Contents
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................... i
Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 1
Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
References .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

ii
Results

 Free convection
Table (1): Raw data for free convection flat plate

Heat Transfer Surface flat plate

T2 T1
Surface TS Duct Inlet (ambient) Difference
Power(W) (°C) TIN (°C) TS - TIN (°C)
25.0 65.6 19.8 45.8

 Force convection
Table (2): Raw data for forced convection (power= 25 w)

Heat transfer Surface (Power = 25 W)

T2 T1
Air velocity Surface Duct Inlet (ambient) Difference
(m/s) TS (°C) TIN (°C) TS - TIN (°C)
1.0 54.3 19.3 35.0
1.5 46.3 19.2 27.1
2.0 41.1 19.2 21.9
2.5 37.8 19.2 18.6
3.0 35.7 19.1 16.6

40
Temperature difference (°C)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
velocity (m/s)

Figure (1): Temperature difference against Air velocity

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 Heat transfer coefficient
Table (3): Raw data for heat transfer coefficient (P = 25 (W), V = 3 (m/s))

Duct T1 T2 T3
Traverse Heat Transfer
Probe Ambient Surface Duct Traverse
Position Temperature Temperature TS Probe
(mm) (Probe) TIN (°C) (°C) TP (°C) TS – TIN (°C) TP – TIN (°C)
0.5 19.3 35.2 20.9 15.9 1.6
1.0 19.2 35.2 20.8 16.0 1.6
1.5 19.2 35.1 20.8 15.9 1.6
2.0 19.3 35.2 20.6 15.9 1.3
2.5 19.2 35.2 20.4 16.0 1.2
3.0 19.3 35.2 20.2 15.9 0.9
3.5 19.2 35.1 19.9 15.9 0.7
4.0 19.1 35.1 19.7 16.0 0.6
4.5 19.2 35.1 19.6 15.9 0.4
5.0 19.3 35.1 19.5 15.8 0.2
5.5 19.2 35.1 19.4 15.9 0.2
6.0 19.2 35.0 19.4 15.8 0.2
6.5 19.1 35.1 19.3 16.0 0.2
7.0 19.1 35.0 19.5 15.9 0.4
7.5 19.0 34.9 19.6 15.9 0.6
8.0 19.0 34.8 19.6 15.8 0.6
Tavg 19.2 35.1 20.0 15.9 0.8

From manual: AS = 0.027 (m2)

Logarithmic mean temperature difference (Tm) = 35.7 (°C)
Heat coefficient (hc) = 25.9 (W/m2. °C)

1.8
1.6
1.4
Tp -Tin (°C)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Position (mm)

Figure (2): Temperature Difference against Position

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Discussion

In this experiment we used the pinned surface which increase the efficiency of transfer
more heat and showing that the effect of density and gravity in free convection heated state
which a less density air made the heated air rise and moves up and away from the heat
source naturally when buoyant force effecting on it is greater than the gravity force.

But on the other case when the external force presented which called force convection
used to heat the air and moved up the heated air, the force convection connected with air
velocity and when increase the velocity of air, the temperature of pinned surface will
decrease, Consequently the heat transfer also decreases.

Based on the result, to find the value of heat transfer coefficient for two cases, we used
Newton's law of cooling and we found that the value of heat transfer coefficient for forced
convection (where there is external force) is greater than the value of free convection
(where there is no forcing)

At the end, we found and study the effect of distance on the value of temperature at the
duct Travers probe, which is decrease gradually with distance along the duct.

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Conclusion

Based on the results and error analysis of the experiment on free and forced convection, it is
found that the heat transfer rate is higher in forced convection than in free convection. This is
because forced convection involves the use of an external force, such as a fan, to increase the
flow of fluid and therefore facilitate the transfer of heat. In contrast, free convection relies
solely on natural buoyancy forces, which are weaker and less efficient at transferring heat.

Additionally, it was observed that the heat transfer rate increases with increasing Reynolds
number, which is a dimensionless parameter that describes the flow of fluid. This is consistent
with the theoretical predictions of fluid mechanics, which state that higher Reynolds numbers
result in more turbulent flow and therefore more efficient heat transfer.

Overall, the objectives of the experiment were successfully met, as the results obtained were
consistent with the theoretical predictions and previous experimental data. The experimental
setup and procedures were also found to be reliable, with the error analysis indicating that the
uncertainties in the measurements were within acceptable limits.

Therefore, it is concluded that the analytical model agrees with the observed behavior of the
system within 10% with a confidence level of 95% for the conditions of this experiment. The
results of this experiment provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of heat transfer in
fluid systems, which have important applications in engineering and industrial processes.

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References

1. Basic Engineering Thermodynamics, by Rayner Joel, published by Longman ISBN

0-582-25629-1

2. Engineering Thermodynamics, by G.F.C Rogers and Y.R Mayhew, published by Longman,

ISBN 0-582-02704-7

3. Heat transfer, by J.P Holman, published by McGraw Hill, ISBN 978-0-07-352936-3

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Appendix

Sample of calculations:
 For free convection:

∆T = TS − TIN = 65.6 − 19.8 = 45.8

 For forced convection:

∆T = TS − TIN = 54.3 − 19.3 = 35

 For heat transfer coefficient:

∆T = TS − TIN = 35.2 − 19.3 = 15.9

∆T = TP − TIN = 20.9 − 19.3 = 1.6

 For logarithmic mean temperature (Tm ):

𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 20.0 − 19.2

𝑇𝑚 = = = 35.7°𝐶
𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 35.1 − 19.2
log ( ) log ( )
𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 35.1 − 20.0

𝑄 25
ℎ𝑐 = = = 25.9 (𝑊/𝑚2 . °𝐶)
𝐴𝑠 × 𝑇𝑚 0.027 × 35.7