Heat Transfer Coefficient Calculations

Instructions
This Worksheet will allow you to calculate heat transfer coefficients (h) for convection situations that involve internal flow
in a tube of given cross-section. The sheet will allow you to input your tube cross section specifications (perimeter, area, diameter),
to define desired flow rates, to calculate Reynold's numbers and Nusselt numbers, and finally to find the local heat transfer coefficient (h).
Each Section of the sheet is surrounded by a border with a heading, and includes an important step in the calculation process. You, the user,
must fill in every box that is surrounded by a double border like below. You must also select entries from all drop-down menus.
Fill in these boxes - NOT others
All calculated numbers are returned in plain boxes, but in bold and italic text - these are the results. In addition, the sheet allows you to specify
certain units (like flow rates and tube sections).

TUBE SECTION
Fill in data for either a circular tube or a non-circular tube.

CIRCULAR OR NON-CIRCULAR TUBE

Select Your Unit of Length:
in = inches
mm = millimeters
Select Your Type of Cross Section:
circular
non-circular

in = inches1

Using Non-circular Section - Not Nee

0.375

Area (your units^2) =

Perimeter (your units) =

0.098
1.285

2
non-circular
Hydraulic Diameter (4A/P) (your unit

Your Cross Sectional Area (m^2) =

Your Effective Tube Diameter (m) =

6.322568E-005
0.0077484825

0.3050583658

"A"
"D"

FLOW RATE
Specify flow rate and the units you are using.
Select Flow Rate Specification:
GPM = gallons per minute
FPS = feet per second
MPS = meters per second

1
GPM = gallons
per minute

Flow Rate (Your Units) =

4.1

Flow Rate (m/s) =

4.193443761

"V"

REYNOLD'S NUMBER CALCULATION and PROPERTIES

Units are set in S.I. Form; however, the Reynold's number itself is non-dimensional.
Also, this sheet will use water properties unless otherwise prompted (by entering "custom values").
Please NOTE: water properties in this sheet are only available for 273 to 373K. You must use custom
values outside of this range.
Re calculated using diameter:
Hydraulic Diameter
Coolant Type:
water = standard water properties (automatic)
custom = your own values (fill in custom spaces)

1
water = standard
water properties (automatic)

Estimated Mean Coolant Temp (Tm) (K):

WATER PROPERTIES:
nu (specific volume in m^3/kg) =
roe (density in kg/m^3) =
mu (viscosity in kg/(m*sec)) =
k (thermal conductivity in W/m^K) =
Pr (Prandtl # in non-dimensional units) =

295
CUSTOM PROPERTIES:
roe (density in kg/m^3) =
mu (viscosity in kg/(m*sec)) =
k (thermal conductivity in W/m^K) =
Pr (Prandtl # in non-dimensional unit
NOTE: You do not need these if using water between
273 and 373 Kelvin.

0.001002
998.003992016
0.000959
0.606
6.62

Reynolds Number (Re = roe*V*D/mu) =

33814

"Re"

NUSSELT NUMBER CALCULATIONS

Based on the Reynold's number, the Nusselt number will be calculated. There are three basic flow ranges in which the heat transfer
differs substantially - the laminar region (Re<2300), laminar to turbulent transition (2300<Re<10000), and the turbulent region (Re>10000).
Since different equations apply in these different regions, the spreadsheet will select which equations to use, and will then indicate which
ones have been applied. All equations are found in the book Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, by Incropera and De Witt, which is
available through John Wiley and Sons, in New York. Also, note that the friction factor is needed in some places; it will be calculated
automatically for smooth tubes, but for rougher tubes the friction factor must be derived in some other way (such as from the Moody Diagram).
Flow Range (based on Re):
Turbulent
Corresponding Nusselt # Correlation:
Petukhov, Kirillov, Popov
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

1
Not Available

Please Specify Friction Factor Input:

smooth tube - automatic
user-defined
Not Required:

1
smooth tube
- automatic

Friction Factor:
Nusselt Number:

1
0.022936235
230.1144292494

"f"
"Nu"

HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT

Please keep in mind that all of these equations are approximations that fit experimental data. Actual convection coefficients can vary greatly.
In addition, the accuracy of the results obtained from this spreadsheet will rely heavily upon YOU making reasonable assumptions about your
flow situation, and paying special attention to the limits of these equations. For instance, NONE of these equations are valid for Reynold's numbers
above five million, or for fluids with Prandtl numbers below 0.5 or above 2000. There are many heat transfer sources available for reference; if you
suspect that any of these numbers are not accurate, please consult your reference sources. Lastly, except for the case of laminar flow, the conditions
of constant surface heat flux and constant surface temperature utilize the same equations in this spreadsheet, which is again an approximation. In
general, this spreadsheet has been constructed in order to solve cooling problems (hence the water properties that are only available above Room Temp).
If you have a heating application, or one that involves large temperature differences (gradients) you may need to consult another source.
Heat Transfer Coefficient (W/m^2K) (=k*Nu/D) =

17996.9877069716

PRESSURE DROP IN COOLING CHANNEL

The pressure drop along the given cooling channels is calculated below based on whether the flow is laminar or turbulent, and
what its corresponding friction factor is. Keep in mind that this pressure drop corresponds to a single channel only.
Flow Type:
Turbulent
Corresponding Friction Factor:
0.022936235
Select Your Unit of Length:
in = inches
mm = millimeters
Length of Cooling Channel (your units):
Your Tube Length (m) =
Pressure Drop (Pascals) =
Pressure Drop (PSI) =
Reference: Chapter Eight
Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 3rd Edition
Frank P. Incropera
David P. De Witt
New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1990
Spreadsheet written by Neal Hartman, X7627.
Completed Nov. 24, 1998.

2
mm = millimeters
1000
1.0000
25974.63
3.76

20
2
2
2