1.

0 EXPERIMENT AIM
This experiment offers the determination of heat transfer coefficient through of the tubes bank.

2.0 EXPERIMENT OBJECTIVE

To determine of heat transfer coefficient for forced convection for tubes bank.

3.0 EXPERIMENT APPARATUS

NO ITEM NO ITEM
1 Power Indicator 7 Temperature Indicator
2 Power Controller 8 Temperature Selector
3 Heater Switch 9 Heated Surface
4 Fan Controller 10 Temperature Sensor
5 Main Switch 11 Thermal Anemometer
6 Fan / Blower

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4.0 EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE
Start-up Procedure
1. Connect the main input power supply plug to a nearest single-phase electrical supply of
240VAC/50Hz.
2. Make sure that the main switch is “OFF”.
3. Turn the heater power control knob and fan speed control knob fully anti-clockwise.
4. Connect the fan supply lead at the base of the duct to the socket beneath the control panel.
5. Connect the temperature probe lead to the socket beneath the control panel.
6. Clamp the plate heat exchanger into the duct using the two toggle clamps and connect the
heater power supply lead to the socket on the cover.
7. Connect the plate temperature connector to the socket on the heat exchanger.
8. Switch “ON” the anemometer, carefully slide the protective cover rearwards to expose the
probe head then locate the probe into the bush fitted to the duct. Place the meter (anemometer)
into the bracket situated on the side of the duct.
9. Ensure that the sensor hole is aligned with the direction of the airflow when inserting the
probe through the wall of the duct. Set the switch to “OFF” when the anemometer is not being
used.
10. Switch the equipment “ON” by switching on the main switch.
11. Check that the L.E.D temperature meter and wattmeter are illuminated. Check that the
temperature meter indicated ambient temperature.
12. Increase the heater power in the exchanger by rotating the power control knob clockwise.
The power supplied to the exchanger should be shown in watts on the meter (control panel).
13. Switch “ON” the fan and increase the speed by rotating the fan speed control knob
anticlockwise.
14. Set the switch “ON” the anemometer and observe that the air velocity is indicated on the
meter scale.
15. Connect the exchanger temperature lead to the socket beneath control panel. Check that the
temperature meter indicates the increasing temperature of the heat exchanger metalwork.
16. Set the heater power control and fan speed control knob (anti-clockwise) to minimum.
17. Now you are ready for the following experiments.

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Shut-down Procedure
1. Switch “OFF” the anemometer and the power control knob (anti-clockwise). Set the fan speed
control knob (anti-clockwise) to maximum to cool down the hot plate of heat exchanger.
2. Shut down the main power supply after plate heat exchanger has cooled down to room
temperature. Then, unplug the power supply cable.

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5.0 EXPERIMENT ANALYSIS
Air Surface Temperature Inlet Exit Bulk Mean Density,𝜌 Specific Thermal
Velocity, 𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 temperature, temperature, Fluid 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 Heat, 𝐶𝑝 Conductivity,
V (m/s) 𝑇𝑖𝑛 (°𝐶) 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 (°𝐶) Temperature, (J/kg. K) k (W/m. K)
𝑇𝐵
0.7 71.4 69.45 72.2 71.02 24.8 32.7 28.75 1.169 1007 0.02579
1.2 67.8 65.7 68.45 67.32 25.8 36.1 30.95 1.161 1007 0.02595
1.7 62.3 60.35 62.2 61.62 26.5 32.9 29.7 1.165 1007 0.02586
2.2 55.85 53.95 56.05 55.28 26.0 31.9 28.95 1.168 1007 0.02580
2.7 47.6 45.5 48.45 47.18 24.1 29.3 26.7 1.177 1007 0.02564

Air Kinematic Prandtl Prandtl Max Reynolds Nusselt Average ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦, Mass Flow
Velocity, Viscosity, y Number, Number, Velocity, Number, Number, Nusselt 𝑊 Rate, 𝑚̇
V (m/s) (𝑚2 /𝑠) Pr 𝑃𝑟𝑠 𝑉𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝑅𝑒𝐷 𝑁𝑢𝐷 Number, ( 2 , °𝐶) (kg/s)
𝑚
(m/s) 𝑁𝑢𝐷,𝑁𝐿
0.7 1.5965𝑥10−5 0.7286 0.7175 1.357 1113.480 23.85 22.18 43.67 3.637𝑥10−3
1.2 1.6169𝑥10−5 0.7279 0.7184 2.327 1885.318 32.68 30.39 60.20 6.191𝑥10−3
1.7 1.6052𝑥10−5 0.7282 0.7198 3.296 2689.856 40.44 37.61 74.24 8.801𝑥10−3
2.2 1.5983𝑥10−5 0.7285 0.7214 4.266 3496.503 47.31 43.99 86.64 0.0114
2.7 1.5776𝑥10−5 0.7291 0.7235 5.235 4347.015 53.91 50.14 98.14 0.0141

Heat transfer rate, Q (J/s) Heat transfer area, As Log mean temperature ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 Efficiency,ƞ
(𝑚2 ) difference, ∆𝑇𝑚 (℃) (𝑊/𝑚2 . ℃) %
28.933 0.0469 42.15 14.64 0.36167
64.214 0.0469 36.13 37.90 0.80267
56.721 0.0469 31.81 38.02 0.70901
67.731 0.0469 26.22 55.08 0.84664
73.833 0.0469 20.37 77.29 0.92292

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Below are some of the required formula for the data above.
𝑇1 +𝑇2 +𝑇3
1. 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = ℃
3

𝑇𝑖𝑛 + 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡
2. 𝑇𝐵 = ℃
2
3. Density,𝝆 , Specific heat, 𝑪𝒑 , Thermal conductivity, k, Kinematic viscosity, y and Prandtl
Number, Pr are taken from table A-15 with interpolation with respect to 𝑻𝑩 .
4. Prandtl Number, 𝑷𝒓𝒔 is also obtained from table A-15 but respect to the 𝑻𝒂𝒗𝒈 .

5. The given data is

𝐿 = 0.067𝑚
𝐷 = 0.0131𝑚
𝑆𝑇 = 0.0273𝑚
𝑆𝐿 = 0.0148𝑚

𝑆 (𝑣) 𝑆
6. Max velocity is obtained with the formula 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2(𝑆𝑇 −𝐷) where 𝑆𝐷 = √(𝑆𝐿 2 + ( 2𝑇 )2 ) and we
𝐷

get the 𝑆𝐷 = 0.02014m.

7. With the given 𝑆𝐷 and 𝑆𝑇 , we can calculate the 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 with the formula given.
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐷
8. Reynolds number is counted with the formula 𝑅𝑒𝐷 = where diameter D is given and the
𝑦
kinematic viscosity y is get by interpolation.
9. By refer Table 7-2 in the book, to calculate the Nusselt number, we have staggered
arrangement tube banks and the Reynolds number fall in the range of (1000 − 2𝑥105 ), we use
the formula
𝑆𝑇 0.2 𝑃𝑟
𝑁𝑢𝐷 = 0.35( ) 𝑅𝑒𝐷 0.6 𝑃𝑟 0.36 ( )0.25
𝑆𝐿 𝑃𝑟𝑠

10. We calculate the average Nusselt number by referring Table 7-3 where we have staggered
arrangement with 𝑁𝐿 = 5, we have the correction factor F as 0.93.
11. The average Nusselt number is calculated with the formula
𝑁𝑢𝐷,𝑁𝐿 = 𝐹. 𝑁𝑢𝐷

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12. The theoretical heat transfer coefficient is calculated with the formula
𝑁𝑈𝐷,𝑁𝐿 𝑘 𝑊
ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 = ( 2 )
𝐷 𝑚 . °𝐶
13. The mass flow rate is then calculated with the formula

𝑘𝑔
𝑚̇ = 𝜌𝐴𝑉 ( )
𝑠
Where A is the area of the tube banks

𝐴 = (𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑥 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡) − 4(0.5 𝑥 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑥 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡)

= (0.0819)(0.0592) − (4.0404𝑥10−4 ) = 4.444𝑥10−3 𝑚²

14. Heat transfer rate is calculated with the formula

𝐽
𝑄̇ = 𝑚̇𝐶𝑝 ∆𝑇 ( )
𝑠
15. Meanwhile the heat transfer area come with the formula

𝐴𝑠 = 𝑁𝜋𝐷𝐿

𝐴𝑠 = (17)(𝜋)(0.0131)(0.067)

= 0.0469𝑚²

16. The log mean temperature difference is then calculated with

(𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛 ) − (𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 − 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 )

∆𝑇𝑚 = (℃)
𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 − 𝑇𝑖𝑛
ln(𝑇 − 𝑇 )
𝑎𝑣𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡

17.The heat transfer coefficient for the experiment is calculated as

𝑄̇ 𝑊
ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝 = ( )
(𝐴𝑠 )(∆𝑇𝑚 ) 𝑚2 . ℃

18. And lastly the efficiency of the experiment is calculated with

𝑄̇
ƞ= (%)
𝑃𝑒

with given 𝑃𝑒 = 80𝑊.

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Example calculation with the velocity = 1.7m/s.

with the result from the experiment

𝑇1 = 62.3℃, 𝑇2 = 60.35℃, 𝑇3 = 62.2℃, 𝑇𝑖𝑛 = 26.5℃, 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 32.9℃.

62.3+60.35+62.2 26.5+32.9
1. We get the 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = 61.62℃, 𝑇𝐵 = = 29.7℃.
3 2

2. Table A-15

Temperature Density Specific Heat Thermal Kinematics Prandtl

Conductivity Viscosity number
(x) (y)

25 (𝑥1 ) 1.184 (𝑦1 ) 1007 0.02551 1.562𝑥10−5 0.7296

29.7(𝑥2 ) 1.165 (𝑦2 ) 1007 0.02586 1.6052𝑥10−5 0.7282

30(𝑥3 ) 1.164 (𝑦3 ) 1007 0.02588 1.608𝑥10−5 0.7282

Perform the interpolation to get the properties at 29.7℃.

(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )∗(𝑦3 −𝑦1 )
𝑦2 = + 𝑦1
(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )

3.For the Prs , we refer to the 𝑇𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 61.62℃ which resulted to

Temperature Prandtl number

60 0.7202

61.62 0.7198

70 0.7177

4.Then we calculate the Max velocity with the formula given

0.0273𝑚 𝑥 1.7𝑚/𝑠
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = 3.296𝑚/𝑠
2(0.02014𝑚 − 0.0131𝑚)

5. Reynolds number calculation

3.296𝑚
𝑥0.0131𝑚
𝑅𝑒𝐷 = 𝑠 = 2689.86
1.6052𝑥10−5 𝑚2 /𝑠

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6. Nusselt number calculation

0.0273𝑚 0.2 0.7282 0.25

𝑁𝑢𝐷 = 0.35𝑥( ) 𝑥2689.860.6 𝑥0.72820.36 𝑥( ) = 40.44
0.0148𝑚 0.7198
7. Average Nusselt number calculation

𝑁𝑈𝐷,𝑁𝐿 = 0.93 𝑥 40.44 = 37.61

8. Theoretical heat transfer coefficient calculation

37.61
ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 = = 74.24 𝑊/𝑚2 . ℃
0.0131
9. The mass flow rate

𝑚̇ = 1.165 𝑥 4.444𝑥10−3 𝑥1.7 = 0.0088𝑘𝑔/𝑠

10. The heat transfer rate

𝑄̇ = 0.0088 𝑥 1007 𝑥 (32.9 − 26.5) = 56.721 𝐽/𝑠

11. Heat transfer area

𝐴𝑠 = 𝑁𝜋𝐷𝐿

𝐴𝑠 = (17)(𝜋)(0.0131)(0.067)

= 0.0469𝑚²

12. Log mean temperature difference

(61.62 − 26.5) − (61.62 − 32.9)
∆𝑇𝑚 = = 31.81℃
61.62 − 26.5
ln(61.62 − 32.9)

13. Experimental heat transfer coefficient calculation

56.72
ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝 = = 38.02 𝑊/𝑚2 . ℃
0.0469 𝑥 31.81

14. The efficiency is calculated as

56.721
ƞ= = 0.7090 = 70.1%
80

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6.0 EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

6.1 The heat transfer coefficient by forced convection at constant Heater Power.

Velocity (m/s) ℎ𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝑊/𝑚2 . ℃) ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝 (𝑊/𝑚2 . ℃)

0.7 43.67 14.64

1.2 60.20 37.90
1.7 74.24 38.02
2.2 86.64 55.08
2.7 98.14 77.29

6.2 The heat transfer coefficient by convection, ℎ𝑒𝑥𝑝 and ℎ𝑡ℎ VS velocity.

Heat transfer coefficeint VS Velocity

120

100
Heat transfer coefficient

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Velocity (m/s)

Theretical heat transfer coefficient Experimental heat transfer coefficient

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6.3 The efficiency of the system VS velocity at constant Heater Power.

Efficiency VS Velocity
100 92.92
90 84.66
80.27
80 70.91
70
60
Efficiency

50
36.17
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Velocity

7.0 DISCUSSION
1. What will happened if the tube banks are changed to become in line form instead of
staggered form in term of heat transfer coefficient and efficiency?
For in-line arrangement, the maximum velocity occurs at the minimum flow area
between the tubes, and the conservation of mass can be expressed as 𝜌𝑉𝐴 = 𝜌𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥𝐴T.
Then the maximum velocity becomes Vmax=STV/ST-D and it is higher than the
Vmax=STV/2(SD-D) in staggered form. When the maximum velocity increase, the
Reynolds number will increase, ReD= 𝜌𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥𝐷/ 𝜇. The Nusselt number also increase
when the range of Reynolds number getting wider due to higher maximum velocity.
Thus, heat transfer coefficient and efficiency getting higher when tube banks are changed
to become in line form.

2. Comments on the variation heat transfer coefficient by convection with air velocity and
heater power and efficiency of the system with air velocity.
From the result we know that the heat transfer coefficient by convection is increases
when the air velocity is higher. The mass flow rate, ṁ is increase follow by the rate of
heat transfer, Q when the velocity is higher. Therefore, the heat transfer coefficient
between the tube banks surface and air flow is higher. This may cause the outlet air
velocity temperature is higher than inlet.

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 The temperature difference is higher may lead to higher rate of heat transfer, thus the heat
transfer coefficient also higher. The efficiency of the system is higher due to the heater
𝑄
power is constant and the rate of heat transfer is directly proportional to it, Ƞ = 𝑃 . In this
𝑒
experiment, the efficiency of the system shown in not consistency with up and down, this
may be the error in the system functioning.

3. List all factors that will be affecting the convection process.

i. The higher the airflow rate, the higher the convection rate.
ii. The larger the surface area the conduction surface, the higher the heat transfer
rate.
iii. Drag forces, which exist due to the combined effects of pressure and wall, shear
forces in the flow direction.

4. What is condition of this experiment, steady state or unsteady state? Explain.

The condition of this experiment appears to be under an unsteady state. The assumption
made in this experiment is that the air properties remain constant throughout the
experiment. Tube banks surface are supposed to subject to uniform heat flux. However,
the temperature in the tube banks appears to be unsteady due to convection heat transfer
process.

5. What are the differences between laminar and turbulent flows? Which one has
happened in this experiment? Explain.
Laminar flow is the flow of a fluid when each particle of the fluid follows a smooth path,
paths which never interfere with one another. One result of laminar flow is that the
velocity of the fluid is constant at any point in the fluid.

Turbulent Flow is an irregular flow that is characterized by tiny whirlpool regions.

6. What is the difference in the measured values of heat transfer coefficient if one uses
linear average temperature instead of LMTD?

Turbulent flow happens in this experiment. This can be proven by the

Reynolds number obtained in the experiment which is greater than 2300.

7. Explain any unusual difficulties or problems which may have led to poor results.
Experiment apparatus such as temperature sensors are not sensitive enough to detect the
change in temperature. Some temperature reading is not acceptable.

11
 The surrounding temperature is below the temperature that required for condition in the
experiment and it will affect the temperature reading.

The air velocity is not accurate when we rotating the fan speed control knob in certain
speed. The reading showed is change rapidly until we cannot get the exact velocity. We
just record the velocity which with slightly different with the actual velocity.

8. In which mode of heat transfer is the convection heat transfer coefficient usually
higher, natural convection or forced convection? Why?

Forced convection has the higher heat transfer coefficient compare to natural convection.
In force flow, a fluid is forced to flow over a surface or in a pipe by external means such
as a pump or a fan. When the fluid is forced through a pipe, the flow velocity is getting
higher. Thus, the convection heat transfer between the air flow and surface of tube banks
are greater. When the fluid in forced flow, the higher flow rate also increases the rate of
heat transfer. Thus, the convection heat transfer coefficient will get higher.

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8.0 CONCLUSION
8.1 Intelligent conclusion and discussion
Through this experiment, we are able to determine the heat transfer coefficient for forced
convection for tube banks and coefficient of the forced convention system. There is some
difference between theoretical and experimental due to systematic and random errors throughout
the experiment. From the experiment, we can conclude that the experimental heat transfer
coefficient is lower than the theoretical coefficient as there maybe inaccurate data collection or
energy lose to the surrounding.
The efficiency of the system is variance throughout the experiment which reached the
highest efficiency of 92.3% at 2.7m/s while lowest of 36.17% at 0.7m/s. Lastly, we can say that
when the higher the heater power (Pe), the higher the heat transfer rate (Q). However, when the
heater power is constant, we increase the velocity(v) in the system, also resulted in the increase
in heat transfer rate with increasing in the velocity.

8.2 Industrial application

Convection is a process of heat transfer from one medium to another medium which is in a state
of motion or flow. When this process occurs naturally or without any human or external support
it called a natural convection and when you need an extra input or a human input for that flow
per heat transfer to take place effectively, it’s called as forced convection.

Examples for forced convection are as follows:

1. Using a fan on a hot summer day.

Explanation: the sweat that our body produces is for effective heat transfer. When the fan
is off, the air around us absorbs the water vapor until its saturated. After the fan stops for
some time and we will start feeling hotter. However, when we switch on the fan, the air
around us starts moving, so the air never gets saturated completely and hence the sweat
keeps evaporating by absorbing our body heat and we feel cooler.

2. Radiators in fridges, AC and automobiles.

Explanation: radiators are specifically designed for heat exchanging purposes. Radiators
in fridges and ACs have an additional fan whereas radiators in automobiles usually don’t
have fans. The fans provide the fresh/cold air to absorb the heat from the radiator tubes
and fins during heat transfer. Whereas in automobiles, when it’s in motion, the radiators
naturally receive fresh air for heat transfer.

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 3. Instant water heating geysers or any other geysers.

Explanation: In geysers the water is in a flow due to motor, so it acts as a forced

convection for heat exchange pipes.

9.0 REFERENCES

1. “Heatric- Heat Exchanger Industry Applications.” [Online]. Available:

https://www.heatric.com. Accessed: Nov. 22, 2016

2. Yunus A.Cengel and Afshin J. Ghajar, “Heat and Mass Tranfer, Fundamental and
Applications,” Vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 418-443, 2015.

3. https://www.ukessays.com/essays/engineering/applications-of-forced-convection-
engineering-essay.php

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_heating

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