Heat Transfer Level :200

Mechatronics Department Code: MTE 201

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Sheet 3- Natural Convection

Problem 3.1: Consider a wall-mounted power transistor that dissipates 0.18 W of power in an
environment at 35°C. The transistor is 0.45 cm long and has a diameter of 0.4 cm. The emissivity of the
outer surface of the transistor is 0.1, and the average temperature of the surrounding surfaces is 25°C.
Disregarding any heat transfer from the base surface, determine the surface temperature of the transistor.
Use air properties at 100°C. Use trial and error approach to complete your solution.

Problem 3.2: A 10-m-long section of a 6-cm-diameter horizontal hot water pipe passes through a large
room whose temperature is 22°C. If the temperature and the emissivity of the outer surface of the pipe
are 65°C and 0.8, respectively, determine the rate of heat loss from the pipe by (a) natural convection
and (b) radiation.

Problem 3.3: Water is boiling in a 12-cm-deep pan with an outer diameter of 25 cm that is placed on
top of a stove. The ambient air and the surrounding surfaces are at a temperature of 25°C, and the
emissivity of the outer surface of the pan is 0.95. Assuming the entire pan to be at an average temperature
of 98°C, determine the rate of heat loss from the cylindrical side surface of the pan to the surroundings
by (a) natural convection and (b) radiation.

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 Heat Transfer Level :200

Mechatronics Department Code: MTE 201

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Problem 3.4: Consider a 15-cm x 20-cm printed circuit board (PCB) that has electronic components on
one side. The board is placed in a room at 20°C. The heat loss from the back surface of the board is
negligible. If the circuit board is dissipating 8 W of power in steady operation, determine the average
temperature of the hot surface of the board, assuming the board is (a) vertical, and (b) horizontal with
hot surface facing up. Take the emissivity of the surface of the board to be 0.8 and assume the
surrounding surfaces to be at the same temperature as the air in the room. Start your solution by guessing
“the surface temperature” to be 45°C.

Problem 3.5: An incandescent lightbulb is an inexpensive but highly inefficient device that converts
electrical energy into light. It converts about 10 percent of the electrical energy it consumes into light
while converting the remaining 90 percent into heat. The glass bulb of the lamp heats up very quickly
as a result of absorbing all that heat and dissipating it to the surroundings by convection and radiation.
Consider an 8-cm-diameter 60-W light bulb in a room at 25°C. The emissivity of the glass is 0.9.
Assuming that 10 percent of the energy passes through the glass bulb as light with negligible absorption
and the rest of the energy is absorbed and dissipated by the bulb itself by natural convection and
radiation, determine the equilibrium temperature of the glass bulb. Assume the interior surfaces of the
room to be at room temperature. Start your solution by guessing “the surface temperature” to be 170°C.

Problem 3.6: The water in a 40-L tank is to be heated from 15˚C to 45˚C by a 6-cm-diameter spherical
heater whose surface temperature is maintained at 85˚C. Determine how long the heater should be kept
on.

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 Heat Transfer Level :200

Mechatronics Department Code: MTE 201

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Problem 3.7: In a plant that manufactures canned aerosol paints, the cans are temperature-tested in water
baths at 55°C before they are shipped to ensure that they will withstand temperatures up to 55°C during
transportation and shelving. The cans, moving on a conveyor, enter the open hot water bath, which is 0.5
m deep, 1 m wide, and 3.5 m long, and move slowly in the hot water toward the other end. Some of the
cans fail the test and explode in the water bath. The water container is made of sheet metal, and the entire
container is at about the same temperature as the hot water. The emissivity of the outer surface of the
container is 0.7. If the temperature of the surrounding air and surfaces is 20°C, determine the rate of heat
loss from the four side surfaces of the container (disregard the top surface, which is open).