Mohammed Zaid Shaikh

H00114083
This document contains a report on
forced convection around a
cylindrical copper rod of diameter
0.0125 m

Forced
Covection
Thermo lab Report

FORCED CONVECTION THERMO LAB REPORT

INTRODUCTION
This report covers the heat transfer rate from a cylindrical copper rod to the
surrounding air moving at a certain fixed velocity in an isolated system. Besides
showing how the heat transfer rate is affected by varying the velocity of air in
the isolated system this experimental lab report also shows the calculations for
Reynolds number, Nusselt number, as well as the film heat transfer coefficient.
Moreover, it covers brief discussion on the comparison of the experimental
values of K and n from the below equation with that of their literature values.

Nu=K n
In this experiment the heat transfer rate associated with the cross flow of air
across a cylindrical copper rod at various velocities has been investigated. The
aim of the experiment is to determine the heat transfer characteristics of a
cylinder under cross flow forced convection conditions when the cylinder is
isolated. The following equation is used to plot the graph and hence the slope of
the graph was used to calculate the estimated heat transfer coefficient .

ln T Ta

A
t ln T0 Ta
mC p

This experiment also helps in understanding the complexities in heat transferring

during the cross flow across a cylindrical copper rod. On changing the velocity of
the wind, the Reynolds number of the flow changes which then affects the heat
transfer. (Fig. a) below shows a graphical representation on how increasing the
Reynolds number changes the nature of the flow.

Practical and Real Life Applications:

Some of the practical applications of forced convention are:
Car radiator,
Cooling towers,
Air cooled heat exchangers etc.
For example in car radiators the cooling fan used to cool down the heated
radiator is an application of heat transfer due to forced convection. Also when
the car is in motion the fast air moving through the radiator cooling it down is
also an example of forced convection in the car radiators. The data from this

report can hence be used as reference when designing a car radiator with copper
metal for ambient temperature of 23C.

Fig. a
3

PROCEDURE AND APPARATUS

The following procedures were undertaken for this experiment:
1) The apparatus was checked by the lab supervisor
2) The air duct was switched on
3) The air speed was set to 3 m/s using the knob
4) The copper cylindrical rod was heated up to 97C in an electric heated
5) The copper rod was then placed inside the air duct through one of the hole
6) The temperature drop was noted after every 5 seconds using a thermometer
and stopwatch
7) Steps 3-6 were repeated to take readings at different wind speed

The following apparatus were used for the experiment

Cross flow heat exchanger (Fig. B)

Electric heater
Copper cylindrical rod
Stop watch

RESULTS
4

Given Data:

T a=23 C

Ambient Temperature

Surface area of copper cylinder

m=0.21 kg

Mass of copper cylinder

Specific heat of copper

C p =0.38 kJ /kg . K

Width of working section

Height of working section
Diameter of rod

A=0.00404 m2

b=12.5 cm
h=12.5 cm

d=1.25 cm

Recorded Data:
Time(s)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115

Temp @
v=3m/s(C
)
97.0
97.0
92.7
92.7
88.6
88.6
87.1
87.1
82.0
82.0
79.1
79.1
77.1
77.1
74.2
74.2
72.4
72.4
70.4
70.4
68.3
68.3
66.4
66.4

Temp @
v=5m/s(C
)
97.0
97.0
91.9
88.2
86.8
81.1
81.1
77.3
76.5
73.2
72.3
69.3
68.7
66.0
66.0
63.0
62.5
60.3
60.3
57.4
57.4
55.5
55.5
53.3

Temp @
v=7m/s(C
)
97.0
97.0
95.9
89.1
89.1
81.4
81.4
76.0
76.0
71.5
71.5
67.6
67.6
64.1
64.1
61.1
61.1
58.1
58.1
55.4
55.4
53.6
53.6
51.2
5

Temp @
v=9m/s(C
)
97.0
96.1
90.9
90.9
83.9
83.9
78.0
78.0
72.9
72.9
68.8
68.8
65.0
65.0
61.6
61.6
58.4
58.4
56.0
56.0
53.0
53.0
51.2
51.2

Temp @
v=11m/s(
C)
97.0
97.0
91.6
91.6
83.5
83.5
78.0
76.9
71.4
71.4
66.8
66.8
62.9
62.9
60.2
60.2
56.7
56.7
54.5
54.5
51.4
51.4
49.7
49.7

120

64.6

Calculated Data @

Time(s)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120

53.3

51.2

49.1

T-Ta (C)

Ln(T-Ta)

74
74
69.7
69.7
65.6
65.6
64.1
62.1
59.0
59.0
56.1
56.1
54.1
54.1
51.2
51.2
49.4
49.4
47.4
47.4
45.3
45.3
43.4
43.4
41.6

4.304065
4.304065
4.2442
4.2442
4.183576
4.183576
4.160444
4.128746
4.077537
4.077537
4.027136
4.027136
3.990834
3.990834
3.93574
3.93574
3.89995
3.89995
3.858622
3.858622
3.813307
3.813307
3.770459
3.770459
3.7281

u=3 m/ s

Temp T @
v=3m/s(C
)
97.0
97.0
92.7
92.7
88.6
88.6
87.1
87.1
82.0
82.0
79.1
79.1
77.1
77.1
74.2
74.2
72.4
72.4
70.4
70.4
68.3
68.3
66.4
66.4
64.6

Ambient
Temp Ta
(C)
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23

Calculations:

@u=3 m/ s

u=3 m/ s
v=

u
3
=
=3.33
0.9 0.9

=18.3808 Pa . s

a=1.17656 kg/m3

47.6

d=0.0125 m
b=0.125 m

h=0.125 m
k =0.0259 W /(m . K )

Heat transfer coefficient , =

3=

Slope of graph 1 m C p
A

0.0048 0.21 380

0.00404

3=94.8 W /(m 2 . K)
Similarly,

@u=5,7, 9,11 heat transfer coefficient is calculated

5=150.12W /(m2 . K )
7=167.9 W /(m2 . K )
9=169.87 W /( m2 . K)
2

11=185.67 W /(m . K )
Nusselt number , Nu=

Nu 3=

d
k

94.8 0.0125
=46
0.0259

Similarly,

@u=5,7, 9,11

Nusselt number is calculated

Nu5=73
Nu 7=82

Nu 9=83
Nu 11=90

a v d

3=

1.17656 3.333 0.0125

=2667
18.3808

Similarly,

@u=5,7, 9,11

Reynolds number is calculated

5=4445
7 =6315
9 =8119
11 =9924

Prandlt Number,

Pr=

Cp
k

Pr=0.27
Graphical Calculations:

Ln (T-Ta) vs t
5

4.5
f(x) = - 0x + 4.3

ln [T-Ta]

ln ()T-Ta

Linear (ln [T-Ta])

3.5

3
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Time

GRAPH #1

(T-Ta) vs t
80
70

f(x) = 73.51 exp( 0 x )

60
50

T-Ta

[T-Ta]

40

Exponential ([T-Ta])

30
20
10
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Time

GRAPH #2

120

140

Nu vs Re

Nusselt number

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2000

f(x) = 1.51 x^0.45

Power ()

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Reynolds number

GRAPH #3
Values from Graphical Equations:
From Graph #1: Slope = - 0.0048

Nu=K

From Graph #3:

Where,

K=1.5066 ,

n=0.4462

DISCUSSION
The Correlation literature value for

'k'

and ' n for the equation

were found as follows:

K=1.15
n=0.5
Error Analysis for

and

values:
10

Nu=K

Error =

Experimental valueLiterature value

100
Literature value

Error for K =

Error for n=

1.50661.15
100=31
1.15

0.44620.5
100=10.7
0.5

Using above values of

Velocity u ( m/s )

and n , we find

Nu

theoretical

Reynolds Number (

Nusselt Number ( Nu )

2667

59

4445

77

6315

91

8119

103

11

9924

114

Plotting the graph for literature value of

11

Nu

vs.

we get,

Nu vs Re
120
100

f(x) = 1.16 x^0.5

80
Nusselt number

Nu

60

Power (Nu )

40
20
0
2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Reynold number

GRAPH #4
Comparing the graph #3 and graph #4:
According to the graphical power equations the experimental values of
and

' n'

'K'

are fairly comparable to the literature values. The slight difference

may have occurred due to some errors during the experiment. Some of these
errors are discussed below. The graph below shows the comparison of
experimental values against the literature value. The experimental graph line is
slight deviated below the literature value line which shows that the Nusselt
number is lower of the experimental value as compared to that of the literature
vales. This deviation is mainly due to the errors occurred while performing the
experiment. But taking into consideration the error % values the graph shows
fairly little deviation.

12

120
f(x) = 1.16 x^0.5
100
f(x) = 0.98 x^0.5
80

Nusselt number

Nu literature

60

Power (Nu literature)

Nu

40

Power (Nu)
20
0
2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Reynolds number

GRAPH #5
Possible errors during the experiment:
Varying ambient temperature
Slow digital thermocouple
Timing calculation while using the stopwatch
Varying wind speed from the air duct

CONCLUSION
The experimental results were almost as expected. Error % for the calculations
was less. This experiment shows how the heat transfer rate changes under the
circumstances of forced convection. In conclusion to the experimental result the
following points can be noted:
1.
2.
3.
4.

On increasing the wind speed the copper rod cools faster

The thermal coefficient increases with the increase in Reynolds number
Copper is a good conductor of heat
Convection is an important part of real life applications and can cause
serious engineering problems if not dealt with properly.

REFERENCE
1. Lienhard, J.H, IV & Lienhard, J.H. V, A Heat Transfer Textbook, 4th Ed,
Cambridge, MA, Phlogiston Press, 2011. (A Free Electronic Textbook)
2. Berndt Wischnewski. (2011). Air Calculator. Available:
http://www.peacesoftware.de/einigewerte/calc_luft.php5. Last accessed 20th oct
2013.

3. http://www.egr.msu.edu/~somerton/Nusselt/i/i_a/i_a_3_(ii)/i_a_3_(ii).htm

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