Laboratory sheet ME2TF1 Thermal fluid science 1 heat transfer lab 2022-23

Forced convection in extended surfaces.

1 Object
To understand the effect of flow velocity on the convection heat transfer in extended surfaces.

2 Introduction
Convection heat transfer occurs between a moving fluid and a surface. The temperature
difference between the surface and free stream is the heat’s driving potential, and a temperature
gradient is developed very close to the surface within a region called (‘Boundary layer’). The
heat transfer process by convection is governed by Newton’s law of cooling, as shown below.
The heat transfer by convection is directly proportional to the heat transfer area and convection
heat transfer coefficient. Therefore, increasing the area or the flow velocity promotes heat
transfer effectiveness.

𝑞𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣 = ℎ𝐴𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 (𝑇𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 − 𝑇𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 )

3 Apparatus description
Figure 1 demonstrates the equipment layout. It is a bench-mounting frame with a vertical duct
assembly and the main control panel with controllers and displays. Three heat transfer surfaces
are supplied and fitted, one at a time, into the back of the vertical duct almost in the above half:
flat surface, pinned extended surface, and finned surface.

Figure 1 – heat transfer apparatus layout

Ahmed Rezk Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering 1

Laboratory sheet ME2TF1 Thermal fluid science 1 heat transfer lab 2022-23

4 Procedure
4.1 Disconnect the base unit electrical supply and make sure the heater control is set to a
minimum and the heater switch is off.
4.2 Carefully insert the heat transfer surface into the square hole in the duct and secure it
with the four thumbscrews. Make sure that the thumbscrews are tightened enough to
slightly compress the black gasket and surface fits flush inside the duct.
4.3 Connect the heater and thermocouple cables between the heat transfer surface and the
sockets on the control panel.
4.4 Set the fan to give an air velocity of 1 m/s.
4.5 Set the heater power to 50 W.
4.6 Practically, when the heater on the surface is warming, its electrical resistance slightly
changes. Therefore, slightly adjust the heating power to maintain 50 W when needed.
4.7 Wait for the temperature reading to stabilise, no more than 8 minutes.
4.8 Record the surface temperatures and inlet temperatures.
4.9 Read the exit temperature using the duct traverse probe at three positions (10, 30 and 50
marks) and record the average.
4.10 Repeat the measurements at different air velocities: 1.5, 2 and 2.5 m/s
4.11 Reset the heater to a minimum, switch it off, and allow the air to cool down the surface.
4.12 Set the fan speed to a minimum and disconnect the base unit electric supply.
4.13 Disconnect the heater and thermocouple cables between the heat transfer surface and the
sockets on the control panel.
4.14 Carefully unscrew the four thumbscrews and remove the fitted surface.
4.15 Carefully insert the heat transfer surface into the square hole in the duct and secure it
with the four thumbscrews. Make sure that the thumbscrews are tightened enough to
slightly compress the black gasket and surface fits flush inside the duct.
4.16 Connect the heater and thermocouple cables between the heat transfer surface and the
sockets on the control panel.
4.17 Repeat steps 4.4 – 4.9 for the new surface.
4.18 Set the heater to a minimum at the end of the test, switch it off, and allow the air to cool
down the surface.
4.19 Set the fan speed to a minimum and disconnect the base unit electric supply.

5 Observed results
5.1 Record the observed results in the table below for two surfaces.
5.2 Plot the temperature difference T12 (y-axis) versus the flow velocity (x-axis) for two
surfaces overlayed.
5.3 Plot the temperature difference T13 (y-axis) versus the flow velocity (x-axis) for two
surfaces overlayed in another figure to represent the overall heat transfer.
5.4 Discuss the influence of the flow velocity on the surface temperature and the overall heat
transfer in the report, explaining the implication of flow velocity into Nusselt number
hence the convection heat transfer coefficient based on the following correlation as per
the theory section.

Ahmed Rezk Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering 2

Laboratory sheet ME2TF1 Thermal fluid science 1 heat transfer lab 2022-23

ℎ∙𝑥 𝜈 𝑢∙𝑥
[ ] = 𝑓𝑛 {[ ] , [ ]}
𝑘 𝛼 𝜈
Table 1
Heat transfer surface: Pinned surface
Power = 50 W
Inlet Surface Average exit
Air velocity Temperature differences
temperature temperature temperature
m/s
T1 T2 T3 T12 T13
1

1.5

2.5

Table 2
Heat transfer surface: Finned surface
Power = 50 W
Inlet Surface Average exit
Air velocity Temperature differences
temperature temperature temperature
m/s
T1 T2 T3 T12 T13
1

1.5

2.5

Note: students will form two groups. Each group will undertake the test on one surface and
share the results with the other group at the end of the lab. Therefore, keep the operating
conditions (heating power and air velocity) at each point as close as possible. Setting up,
waiting for a steady operation and collecting the data take about 10 minutes for each operating
point.

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