EXPERIMENT 7

CONVECTION

1. OBJECTIVES
1) Help students reinforce their theoretical knowledge about convection.
2) Help students get used to the structure, operating principle of the equipment, and
experimental method of convection heat transfer.
3) Study the thermal transmittance coefficient of the fluid stream without phase changing and
the fluid stream with phase changing through condensation laminar flow regime in two
cases: natural convectional forced convection.
4) Compare the theoretical thermal transmittance and heat transfer coefficient with the
experimental thermal transmittance and heat transfer coefficient.
5) Establish the heat balance in the convection process.
2. CONTENTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXPERIMENT
2.1. Contents
The following values are required to be recorded in this experiment:
1) Temperature of the inlet and outlet of the cold stream ( water flowing within the pipe).
2) Temperature of the outer wall of the tube where water is condensing. Record the values at
inlet and outlet of the cold stream.
3) Temperature, the amount of condensed water and time need for the water to flow out.
4) Volume of water and time for the water to flow in the vertical pipe.
5) Pressure of the condensed saturated vapor in the experimental chamber.
2.2. Requirements
1) Students must have a good understanding of the theory, structure, and operating principle
of the machine as well as experimental methods before experimenting.
2) At least 5 students are required to operate the machine and measure the necessary values.
3) If there are any reasons the experiment cannot be performed completely, the experiment
must be carried out with the position of overflow plate ả 0; ½; 1; ½.
4) The experiment must be conducted in a stable heat-transferring condition.
3. THEORY
The heat transfer processes between the saturated vapor condensed on the outer wall of the vertical
pipe and the cold water stream include phase-changing convection (vapor condensing on the wall of the

1
vertical pipe) and convection without any phase changes (cold water within the pipe). The heat resistance
of the pipe wall is negligible.
In this experiment, the condensation of the stream is condensation with laminar flow.
The cold fluid inside the vertical pipe is moving naturally as well as forcefully.
The convection heat transfer diagram is demonstrated in Figure 1:
Ftr Fng
v, C: Thickness of the pipe wall and the condensed water
layer (m).
dtr, dng: Inner and outer diameter of the pipe (m).
N=tr C=ng
Ftr, Fng: Inner and outer surface area of the vertical pipe
with height H.
tS
tS: Temperature of saturated vapor (ºC). tVtr q
tN tVng
tN: Average temperature of water inside the pipe ( ºC).
tVtr, tVng: Average temperature of the inner and outer pipe
wall, ºC.
V C
dtr
C = ng: Thermal transmittance coefficient of condensed
water, W/m2K. dng

N = tr: Thermal transmittance coefficient of cold water, Figure 1: Convection heat transfer
2 diagram
W/m K.
q: Heat flux through the wall, W/m2.
3.1. Heat balance equation
Heat absorbed by the cold stream:
Q1 = GNCPN (t3 -t1), W (1)
The heat released due to steam condensation:
Q2 = GC [r + CPC(tS - 𝑡𝐶 )], W (2)
Assume stable heat transfer process and no heat loss, the energy balance equation is:
Q = Q1 = Q2 = GNCPN(t3 -t1) = GC [r + CPC(tS - 𝑡𝐶 )], W (3)
In which:
GN, GC: Mass flow rate of water stream inside the pipe and condensed water ( kg/s).
t1, t3: Inlet and outlet temperature of the water inside the pipe ( ºC).
tS: Temperature of condensed saturated vapor in experimental pressure ( ºC).
𝑡𝐶 : Average temperature of condensed water ( ºC).
𝑡𝑆 +𝑡′𝐶
𝑡𝐶 = , ºC (4)
2

2
 t’C: Temperature of condensed water flowing out (In reality is the sub-cool temperature of
condensed water).
CPN: Specific heat capacity of water flowing inside pipe, determined at the average temperature
of water ( J/kgK).
𝑡1 +𝑡3
𝑡𝑁 = , ºC (5)
2
CPC: Specific heat capacity of water after condensing at 𝑡𝐶 (J/kgK) .
r: latent heat of condensation of saturated vapor tS (J/kg) .
Without any heat loss, the heat balance equation can be demonstrated with the convection equation:
Q' = Q'1 = Q'2
In which:
Q'1 = qtr . Ftr = tr . (tVtr - t N ). Ftr , W
Q'1
 tr = , W/m2K (6)
(tVtr -t N )Ftr

Q'2 = qngFng = ng(tS - tVng)Fng , W

Q2'
 ng = , W/m2K (7)
(t S - t Vng )Fng
Theoretically:
Q'1 = Q'2 = Q1 = Q2 = Q
From (6) and (7), it is possible to determine the experimental value of the thermal transmittance
coefficient of both the cold stream inside the pipe (tr) and the condensed saturated vapor on the outer
wall of the pipe (ng).
In case the thermal resistance of the wall is negligible (copper pipe has a high thermal conductivity
value V = 1272 W/mK and the wall is thin):
t2 + t4
tVtr  tVng = , ºC (8)
2
tVtr  tVng : The average temperature of the inner and outer wall of the pipe (ºC) .

t2 , t4: Outer wall temperature at the inlet (lower) and outlet (upper) of the pipe ( ºC).
3.2. Overall heat transfer coefficient
𝑄
K=𝐹 (W/ m2K ) (9)
𝑡𝑟 .𝛥𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔

Q: heat calculated from (1).

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 (t S − t3 ) − (t S − t1 )
tlog = ,K (10)
(t − t )
ln S 3
(t S − t1 )
3.3. Convection coefficient (thermal transmittance coefficient) of cold stream in pipe (N or
tr)
Thermal transmittance coefficient N (hay tr) is determined the based type of convection (forced
𝐺𝑟
or natural convection) and flow regime: laminar, turbulent or transition flow. 𝑅𝑒 2.5 is used to determine
type of convection:

10-3 10-3< <10-2 10-2

10-3 10-2
Forced convection Mixture of both Natural convection
convection stream

𝑤𝑑𝑡𝑟 4𝐺𝑁
Re = = 𝜋𝑑 (11)
𝜈 𝑡𝑟 𝜌𝜈

In which:
w: fluid velocity (m/s).
: kinematic viscosity of fluid (m2/s).
𝜌: Density of fluid (kg/m3).
a) Natural convection
Convection coefficient N (hay tr) is determined from Nusselt (Nu):

Gr. Pr d tr   H 1   
0 , 75

Nu = . .1 − exp − 16 . .    (12)

32 H   d
 tr Gr Pr   

In which :
 N dtr  tr dtr
Nu = = (12a)
 
 gdtr3 t
Gr = (12b)
2
t = tVtr - tN

Pr = (find in the table)
a

4
 𝑡1 +𝑡3
All physical properties of water are determined at average temperature: 𝑡𝑁 = , ºC.
2

b) Forced convection
𝑑
• In laminar flow regime (Re < 2300) with Re.Pr. 𝐻𝑡𝑟 > 10
𝑑𝑡𝑟 1/3 𝜇 0.14
Nu = 1.86. (𝑅𝑒. 𝑃𝑟. ) . (𝜇 ) (13)
𝐻 𝑉𝑡𝑟
𝑡1 +𝑡3
Physical properties are determined at 𝑡𝑁 = ºC . Vtr is determined at average temperature of inner wall
2
tVtr.
𝐻
• In transition flow (2,300 < Re < 10.000) with 0,7 < Pr <120 and 𝑑 > 50
Nu = 0,023 Re0,8 Pr1/3 (14)
If the effect of lifting force by the flow is neglected, Mikhaev’s formula can be used to calculate
Nu*
Nu*
M= 0,14
= f (Re) (15)
 Pr 
Pr 0,43  
 PrVtr 
Experimental values of M are demonstrated in Table 1.
Table 1
Re.10-3 2,2 2,3 2,5 3 3,5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
M 2,2 3,6 4,9 7,5 10 12,2 16,5 20 24 27 30 33
3.4. Thermal transmittance coefficient of condensed steam
Thermal transmittance coefficient of pure saturated steam condensing is determined based on flow
regime of the condensed liquid stream.
For all cases of laminar flow of condensed compounds, thermal transmittance coefficient for
condensation of pure steam on vertical pipe is determined from Nusselt theoretical formula:
0,25
𝑔𝑟 𝜌2 𝜆3
C = 0,943( 𝜇𝑠 𝐻𝛥𝑡
𝐶 𝐶
) (16)
𝐶 𝑚

In which:
t = tS - 𝑡𝑉𝑛𝑔 = (𝑡𝑆 − 𝑡2+𝑡
2
4
), K

t S + tVng
Physical properties are determined at average temperature: t m = (ºC) . rS is determined
2
at temperature tS for saturated steam.
(16) can be converted into standard equation:

5
 0,25
 
 H  gH 3 C rS 
NuC = C = 0,943 2 . . 
C  C C CPC t S − tVng ( )
  C CPC 
 m
= 0,943(GaC.PrC.K)m0,25 = 0,943(K0)m0,25 (17)
Here:
𝑟𝑆
K=𝐶 is similar standard value Kutatelagze.
𝑃𝐶 (𝑡𝑆 −𝑡𝑉𝑛𝑔 )

When condensed water laminar flow does not depend on velocity (independent of Re), thermal
transmittance coefficient of condensed steam laminar flow can be determined from this formula:
0 , 25
 S   S 
0,25
  0,28  
NuC = 0,42(Ga.Pr.K)S  
* 0,28
 = 0,42(K0.)S    (18)
 Vng   Vng 

All physical properties are determined at tS. PrVng is determined at the average outer wall
temperature.
𝑡2 +𝑡4
tVng = 2
, ºC

4. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENTS

Figure 2: Convection heat transfer process schematic

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 Notation:
1) Graduated cylinder
2) Overflow plate
3) Position indicator of the overflow plate
4) Overflow plate adjustment.
5) Electrical cabinets
6) Boilers
7) Water container
8) Safety valve
T1, T2, T3: Thermometer
P1, P2, P3: Pressure gauges
t1, t2, t3, t4: Temperature sensor
R1: Boiler resistor.
In the equipment, heat transfer process occuring on the vertical copper pipe is set up with the
following conditions:
• Height : H = 60,96 cm = 0,61 m
• Outer diameter : dng = 15,8 mm = 0,0158 m
• Inner diameter : dtr = 13,8 mm = 0,0138 m
• Thickness of tube :  = 1 mm = 0,001 m
• Copper tube thermal conductivity :  = 1272 W/m.K
5. Experimental method
5.1. Preparation
a) Equipment and experimental condition preparationL
1) Measuring tube for volume of condensed water ( 1000 ml )
2) Measuring tube for volume of water flowing inside ( 100 ml )
3) Thermometer to measure outlet temperature of condensed water ( 0 – 100 o C )
4) 2 timer clock to measure the time required for water flowing inside tube and condensation
occur.
5) Power source, water supplier and measuring equipments on the experimental machine.
6) Data table
b) Cold water preparation
1) Close valves V4, V8, S1 , S2 and open V2 , V5 , V11 and S5 valves.
2) Adjust the overflow plate at the desired postion of the experiment

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 3) Open valve V13 to supply water into the system and adjust valve V1 to maintain water level
in the overflowing container.
4) Open V13 until water level is at 3/4 height of the container and open the lid. Slowly open
valve V8 to supply water to the boiler and lock V8 until the water level in boiler reaches 2/3
height of the indicator.
c) Water vapor preparation
1) Lock valves S3, S5, V3, V6 and V7.
2) Open valve S4 to release all leftover condensed water and lock the valve.
3) Turn the “RESISTOR” power source to supply heat to the boiler until the pressure inside
the boiler is at 15 PSI.
5.2. Exacution
1) Alter the indicator and cold-water adjuster according to the experimental requirements.
2) When the pressure in boiler reaches 15 PSI, open V7 completely and slowly open V6. Adjust P3
around 10 PSI - V6 must be open for full condensation on the surface of the pipe.
3) When heat transfer process is stable, measure these values:
• Amount of condensed water as well as the temperature of the condensed water for a specific
period.
• Amount of water flowing inside the pipe in the specific time.
• Inlet and outlet temperature of water stream inside the pipe t1, t3.
• Inlet (lower) and outer (upper) temperature of the outer wall of the pipe t2 , t4.

• Pressure inside vapor tank (P1, P2).

• Vapor pressure in heat exchanger tank (P3).
• Temperature of water in vapor tank (T1).
• Temperature of steam in vapor tank (T2) .
• Temperature of vapor in heat exchanger tank (T3).
• Regularly check water level in overflow tank and vapor tank.
5.3. Stop the experiment to move on another:
1) After measuring, cut the power source for vapor tank, close valves V6, V7,open steam
release valve S5. Supply water into the container by opening V8. Then lock both V8 and S5.
2) Lock valve V1, open valve S4 to remove all hot water inside the heat exchanger tank. Then
lock S4.
3) Change the position of overflow plate according to the next experiment and repeat the
process.
• “0”: natural convection
• ¼; ½; ¾; 1; 1 ¼; and 1 ½ (inch): forced convection

8
5.4. Ending procedure
1) Turn off “RESISTOR” to stop supplying power to the vapor tank.
2) Open S5 to release any leftover steam in tank.
3) Remove all cold water inside the pipe.
4) Lock valveV13 to stop supplying water into the system.
5) Lock and open all valves to the position at the beginning of the experiment.
6) Cut all powersoure.
7) Clean every equipments and examine the whole system
IMPORTANT : If any iccident occurs, immediately press “EMERGENCY STOP” and report
to the person in charge of the lab to fix the problem.
5.5. Raw data table
Table 2
Position of overflow plate (inch)
No. Measured values
0 ¼ ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½
1 t1 (ºC)
2 t2 (ºC)
3 t3 (ºC)
4 t4 (ºC)
5 T1 (ºF)
6 T2 (ºF)
7 T3 (ºF)
8 P1 (PSI)
9 P2 (PSI)
10 P3 (PSI)
11 Condensed water (ml)
12 Recording time of condensed water
(s)
13 Temperature of condensed water t’C
(ºC)
14 Water flowing inside pipe (ml)
15 Time for water flowing inside pipe
(s)
Note: record any unusual problems when conducting the experiment

9
6. Calculation
6.1. Raw data analysis
Table 3
Position of overflow plate (inch)
No. Measured values
0 ¼ ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½
1 t1 (ºC)
2 t2 (ºC)
3 t3 (ºC)
4 t4 (ºC)
5 t’C (ºC)
6 Ps (bar)
7 ts (ºC)
t1 + t 3
8 tN = , ºC
2
t2 + t4
9 t Vng = , ºC
2
10 tVtr  tVng (ºC)

11 t S + tVng
tm = , ºC
2

12 t S + t 'C 0
tC = , C
2

13 t = tVtr − t N , K

14 GN (kg/s)
15 GC (kg/s)
6.2. Values for calculation
Physical properties used in the calculation include:
1) Physical properties of water flowing inside pipe: CPN, , , , , Vtr, Pr. Determined
𝑡1 +𝑡3
at the average temperature of water flowing inside pipe: 𝑡𝑁 = (table 3). PrVtr is
2
determined at : 𝑡𝑉𝑡𝑟 ≈ 𝑡𝑉𝑛𝑔

10
 2) Physical properties of condensed water at experimental pressure: C, C, C, CPC, S,
S, CPS, PrS, PrVng:
𝑡𝑠 +𝑡𝑉𝑛𝑔
• All values with "c" are determined at average temperature: 𝑡𝑚 = 2
• Values with "s" are determined at tS
• Values with "vng" are determined at tVng
3) Physical properties of saturated steam at experimental pressure:
• rS is determined at tS of saturated steam.
Table 4
Position of overflow plate (inch)
No. Physical properties
0 ¼ ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½
1 CPN (J/kgK)
2  (W/mK)
3  (kg/m3)
Water
4  (m2/s)
inside pipe
5  (1/K)
6  (NS/m2)
7 tr (NS/m2)
8 C (W/mK)
9 C (kg/m3)
10 C (NS/m2)
11 C (m2/s)
12 Condensed CPC (J/kgK)
13 water S (W/mK)
14 PrS
15 PrVng
16 S (kg/m3)
17 CPS (J/kgK)
Saturated
18 RS (J/kg)
steam

11
6.3. Heat and heat loss calculation
• Calculate Q1 based on (1)
• Calculate Q2 based on (2)
• Heat loss: Q = Q2 - Q1
𝑄2 − 𝑄1
• Percentage of heat loss: Q (%) = 𝑥100%
𝑄1

Table 5
No. Heat Position of overflow plate (inch)
0 ¼ ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½
1 Q1 (W)
2 Q2 (W)
3 Q (W)
4 Q (%)
6.4. Thermal transmittance of water flowing inside pipe calculation
• Natural convection: Nu and N (tr) based on (12).
• Forced convection: Nu và N (tr) based on (13) or (14) depending on flow regime.
• N (tr) calculated in these problesm are theoretical thermal transmittance coefficient (tr)tt or
(N)tt. Values N (tr) from (6) is called experimental coefficient(N)tn hay (tr)tn.
6.5. Thermal transmittance of condensed water
• For laminar flow of condensed water, C is calculated based on (16) or from Nu (17). C or Nu
from (16) and (17) are called calculated values: (C)tt, (Nu)tt.
• Experimental value (C)tn is calculated based on (7).
6.6. Overall heat transfer coefficient
Overall heat transfer coefficient is calculated by this equation:
1 ( N ) tt .( C ) tt
Ktt = = , W/m2K (19)
1 1 ( N ) tt + ( C ) tt
+
( N ) tt ( C ) tt
In which:
Ktt : overall theoretical coefficient, based on (N)tt and (C)tt, and ignore thermal resistance
of pipe wall V/V).
• KTN is calculated based on (9), in which Q = Q1.
• When including V/V:

12
 1
• K’tt = , W/m2K (20)
1  1
+ V +
( N ) tt V ( C ) tt
Compare Ktt with K’tt
K ' tt 1 V
= , = const (21)
K tt  V
1 + V K tt
V
Table 6
Position of overflow plate (inch)
No. Values Formula
0 ¼ ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½
1 Pr Table
2 PrVtr Table
3 Re (11)
4 Gr (12b)
Water
5 flowing NuN (12), (13) (12) (13)
inside pipe (N)TT or
6 (TR)TT, (12), (13) (12) (13)
W/m2K
(N)tn hay
7 (6)
(tr)tn, W/m2K
8 (C)tt ,W/m2K (16)
9 Condensing (C)tn ,W /m2K (7)
water
10 (NuC)tt (17)
11 Q = Q1 , W (1)
12 𝛥𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔 , K (10)
2
13 Overall heat KTT, W/m K (19)
14 transfer KTN, W/m2K (9)
process
15 K’TT, W/m2K (20)
16 K’TT/ KTT (21)

6.7. Diagram
Plot the following relationships:
• NuN = f(Re)

13
 • Ktt = f(Re)
• (N)tt and (N)TN
• (C)tt and (C)TN
• Ktt and KTN
6.8. Discussion
The following topic can be used for discussion:
1) How can water flows inside pipe when the overflow plate is at “0”.
2) Heat loss
3) Relationship between overflow plate position and tr, ng, K.
4) Compare and explain relationship between theoretical and experimental values of thermal
transmittance coefficient of water inside pipe, condensing water and overall coefficient.
𝛿
5) Effect of (𝜆𝑉 )
𝑉

6) Accuracy and possible erros

7. REFFERENCES
[1] V. P. Isachenco, V. A. Osipova, A. S. Sukomel, “Heat transfer”, Moscow, 1977.
[2] Phạm Văn Bôn, Nguyễn Đình Thọ, “Quá trình và thiết bị truyền nhiệt”, ĐHBK Tp. HCM, 1992.
[3] Hoàng Đình Tín, “Truyền nhiệt và tính toán thiết bị trao đổi nhiệt”. ĐHBK. Tp. HCM, 1996.
……
…….
8. PREPARATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the difference between natural and forced convection?
2) Explain (), () and (K)?
3) Grasshof (Gr) is a similar value for natural of forced convection?
4) Physical meaning of Re, Pr, Ga, K, Nu?
5) What type of convection process occurs in this experiment and which part does the process
occur ?
6) Asssumptions for  (16) for convection heat transfer process for pure steam?
7) Function of: container, vapor tank, heat exchanger tank and overflow tank?
8) What is the meaning of “0, ¼ , ½ , ¾ ,1, 1¼, 1½”?
9) Before experimenting, if the overflow plate is at “0” and water is supplied to the tank, will
the water flow inside vertical pipe and escape ? Why?
10) What type of fluid flow inside and outside the pipe ? When experimenting, what
phenomenon will happen on the surface of the tube placed within heat exchanger tank?

14
11) What is the pressure inside heat exchanger tank ? How do you know?
12) Indicate the direction of the cold water. Place the tube at the correct position to measure
the cold water flowing out
13) Indicate the direction of the steam in heat exchanger tank? Place the tube at the correct
position to measure the condensed water flowing out
14) Why is the steam supplying pipe set up as such in the experimental machine?
15) Process to supply water into experimental chamber?
16) Process to supply steam into experimental chamber?
17) How much water is supplied into container and vapor tank? Why can’t we fill up the vapor
tank with water?
18) How to supply water into the vapor tank again?
19) What values needed to be recorded? How to measure them?
20) t1, t2, t3, t4 are temperature of ? Where to obtain them?
21) Unit of thermometer? How to convert to 0C?
22) Unit of pressure gauges? Conver to bar, at or mmHg? What type of pressure can we read
on the pressure gauges? (áp suất dư hay áp suất tuyệt đối).
23) What is stable heat transfer process? During experimenting, are the values recorded during
stable or unstable process? How to know when to measure the values?
24) During experimenting, if the water supplied is cut off, how do we handle the situation?
25) Without an air compressor to create container pressure, how can we supply water to the
vapor tank during 1st experiment and switching to other experiments?
26) What do we do when the pressure in the vapor tank exceeds 15PSI?

15