Chapter 3

Forced convection – External flow

Flow over cylinders & spheres
(Formulae & Problems)
Home work
H1) Atmospheric Air at 275 K and a free stream velocity of 20 m/s flows over a flat plate 1.5 m
long that is maintained at an uniform temperature of 325 K. Calculate the average heat transfer
coefficient over the region where the boundary layer is laminar, the average heat transfer
coefficient over the entire length of the plate and the total heat transfer rate from the plate to the
air over the length 1.5 m and width 1 m. Assume the transition occurs at Re C=2 x 105.
(June 2006, Anna Univ)
Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 275 K Length, L = 1.5m Velocity, U = 20 m/s
Plate surface temperature, Tw = 325 K Width W = 1m Critical Re = 3.5 x 105
To find: i) hl (laminar portion) ii) ht (entire plate) and iii) Q

Solution:
Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2 CASE I: For laminar flow portion of the plate
Tf = 300K = 27o C ~ 25o C Transition occurs at Rec=2x 105

Properties of air at 25o C Rex = (UL/γ)

ρ = 1.185 kg/m3
k = 0.02634 W/mK Length corresponding to the transition (L t)= (Rec γ / U)
γ = 15.53 x 10-6 m2/s Lt=0.155 m
Pr = 0.702
Forced convection
For a flat plate laminar flow,
Local Nux = 0.332 (Re)0.5 (Pr)0.333 where Re = 2 x 105
Nux = 131.97

Local hx = (Nux k / Lt) Average h = 2 hx

hx (laminar) = 22.42 W/m2K h (laminar) = 44.84 W/m2K

CASE II: For entire length of the plate

ReL = (UL/γ)
ReL = 1.93 x 106

Flow is combined laminar-turbulent flow

For a flat plate combined flow, Average h = (Nu k / L)
Average Nu = (Pr)0.333 [0.037(Re)0.8 – 871]
h (entire plate) = 48.06 W/m2K
Nu = 2737.18

Rate of heat dissipation, Q = h A (Tw – Tά)

Q = h (LW) (Tw – Tά)
Q = 3604.5 W
Home work
H2) Air at a pressure of 8 kN/m 2 and a temperature of 250oC flows over a flat plate 0.3 m wide
and 1 m long at a velocity of 8 m/s. If the plate is maintained at a temperature of 78 oC, estimate
the rate of heat to be removed continuously from the plate. (April 1997, Bharathiyar Univ)

Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 250oC Length, L = 1m Velocity, U = 8 m/s
Plate surface temperature, Tw = 78oC Width W = 0.3m Pressure, p = 8 kN/m2

To find: i) Rate of heat transfer (Q)

Solution: Given pressure is above patm. So γ varies with pressure.

Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2 (Value of Pr, k, Cp will remain same)
Tf = 164o C ~ 160oC
γ = γatm x (patm / pgiven)
Properties of air at 160o C γ = 3.81 x 10-4 m2/s
ρ = 0.815 kg/m3
k = 0.03640 W/mK ReL = (UL/γ)
γ = 30.09 x 10-6 m2/s ReL = 2.1 x 105 – The flow is laminar
Pr = 0.682
Forced convection
For a flat plate laminar flow,
Local Nux = 0.332 (Re)0.5 (Pr)0.333
Nux = 42.35

Local hx = (Nux k / L) Average h = 2 hx

hx (laminar) = 1.542 W/m2K h (laminar) = 3.084 W/m2K

Rate of heat dissipation, Q = h A (Tw – Tά)

Q = h (LW) (Tw – Tά)
Q = 159.1 W

Extended analysis:
Rate of heat dissipation from both sides of plate, Q both = 2 Q
Q = 318.2 W
Forced convection
Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow over a cylinder (External flow)

Two regions
 Boundary layer region
near the surface
 Inviscid region
away from the surface

 Pressure gradient along the cylinder is responsible for the development

of a separated flow region on the backside of the cylinder
 Separation of flow affects the drag force on a curved surface to great
extent
Forced convection
Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow over a cylinder (External flow)

i) Mean film temperature,

All the thermo physical properties of the fluid (like density, viscosity, specific heat,
thermal conductivity) should taken corresponding to mean film temperature
Tw  T Tw – Plate surface temperature
Tf  T – Fluid temperature
2
UD
ii) Reynolds number, Re 

iii) Nusselt number, Nu = C (Re)m (Pr)0.333 (HMT Data book Page: 115)
ReD C m
0.4 – 4.0 0.989 0.330
4.1 – 40.0 0.911 0.385
40.1 – 4000 0.683 0.466
4001 – 40,000 0.193 0.618
40,001 – 400,000 0.0266 0.805
Forced convection
Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow over a cylinder (External flow)

iv) Average heat transfer coefficient, h = (Nu k /D)

v) Heat transfer rate, Q = h A (Tw- Tά)

Where A = π DL

Heat Transfer from circular surfaces – Flow over a sphere (External flow)

i) Nusselt number, Nu = 0.37 (Re)0.6 (HMT Data book Page: 119)

17 < Re < 70,000

ii) Average heat transfer coefficient, h = (Nu k /D)

iii) Heat transfer rate, Q = h A (Tw- Tά)

Where A = 4π r2
Forced convection – Flow over Cylinders
1) Air at 15oC, 30 km/h flows over a cylinder of 400 mm diameter and 1500 mm height with
surface temperature of 45oC. Calculate the heat loss.

Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 15o C Velocity, U=30 km/h=8.33 m/s Diameter, D = 0.4 m
Plate surface temperature, Tw = 45o C Length, L = 1.5 m
To find: Heat loss (Q)

Solution:
Average Nu = C (Re)m (Pr)0.333
Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2
Re value is 2.08 x 105
Tf = 30o C Corresponding ‘C’ value is 0.0266 and ‘m’ value is 0.805.
Properties of air at 30o C
Nu = 451.3
(HMT Data book, Pg: 33)
ρ = 1.165 kg/m3
k = 0.02675 W/mK Average h = (Nu k / D)
γ = 16 x 10-6 m2/s h = 30.18 W/m2K
Pr = 0.701

Re = (UD/γ) = 2.08 x 105 Heat loss, Q = h A (Tw – Tά)

Q = h (π D L) (Tw – Tά)
Q = 1706.6 W
Forced convection – Flow over Cylinders
2) Air at 30oC, 0.2 m/s flows across a 120 W spherical electric bulb at 130 oC. Find the heat
transfer rate and power lost due to convection if bulb diameter is 70 mm.

Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 30o C Velocity, U = 0.2 m/s Heat energy, Qbulb = 120 W
Surface temperature, Tw = 130o C Diameter, D = 0.070 m
To find: i) Heat transfer rate (Q), 2. Power lost due to convection ((Q/ Qbulb)

Solution:
For sphere, Average h = (Nu k / D)
Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2
Nu = 0.37 (Re)0.6 h = 7.94 W/m2K
Tf = 80o C Nu = 18.25
Properties of air at 80o C
ρ = 1 kg/m3 Heat transfer, Q = h A (Tw – Tά)
k = 0.03047 W/mK Q = h (4 π r2 ) (Tw – Tά)
γ = 21.09 x 10-6 m2/s Q = 12.22 W
Pr = 0.692
% heat lost = (Q/ Qbulb) x 100)
Re = (UD/γ) = 663.82 % heat lost = 10.18 %
Forced convection – Flow over Cylinders
3) Air at 40oC flows over a tube with a velocity of 30 m/s. The tube surface temperature is 120 oC,
calculate the heat transfer coefficient for the following cases.
i) Tube could be square with a side of 6 cm ii) Tube is circular cylinder of diameter 6 cm.
Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 40o C Velocity, U = 30 m/s
Tube surface temperature, Tw = 120o C
To find: i) hsquare tube ii) hcircular tube

Solution: Case (i) – Tube is considered as square of side 6 cm

Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2 L = 0.06 m
Tf = 80o C
Re = (UL/γ)
Re = 0.853 x 105
Properties of air at 80o C
ρ = 1 kg/m3 For a flow over non-circular tube,
k = 0.03047 W/mK Nu = C (Re)m (Pr)0.333
γ = 21.09 x 10-6 m2/s
Pr = 0.692 For square cross- section , n = 0.675, C = 0.092 (Pg: 118)

Nu = 173.3
Forced convection – Flow over Cylinders
Average h = (Nu k / L)
hsquare tube = 88 W/m2K

Case (ii) – Tube is circular cylinder of diameter 6 cm

D = 0.06 m

Re = (UD/γ)
Re = 0.853 x 105

For a flow over circular tube,

Nu = C (Re)m (Pr)0.333

Re value is 0.853 x 105

Corresponding ‘C’ value is 0.0266 and ‘m’ value

is 0.805.

Average h = (Nu k / D)
Nu = 219.3
hcircular tube = 111.3 W/m2K
Flow over bank of tubes
Heat transfer in flow over a bank or bundle of tubes has numerous industrial
applications like
 Steam generation in boiler
 Air conditioning cooling coil

One fluid moves over the tube while the second fluid (at different temperature) passes
through the tubes

The tube rows of the bank may be either staggered or inline

Flow over bank of tubes
Configuration of bank of tubes
Characterized by
i) Tube diameter (D)
ii) Transverse pitch (St)
iii) Longitudinal pitch (Sl)
iv) Diagonal pitch (SD) (used for staggered arrangement)

Reynolds number is based on the largest velocity of the fluid flowing over the bank of
tubes
U max D
Re D 

St
U max U
St  D
Where,
U – velocity of fluid (m/s)
St – transverse pitch (m)
D – Diameter of the tube (m)
Flow over bank of tubes
Formula used for flow over bank of tubes (HMT data book, Page no: 122)
St
i) Maximum velocity, U max  U
St  D
U max D
ii) Reynolds number, Re D 


iii) Nusselt number, Nu = C (Re)n (for air)

Nu = 1.13 C (Re)n (Pr)0.333 (for other fluids)

Value of C & n is based on St/D & Sl/D ratio

Where St – Transverse pitch

Sl – longitudinal pitch
D – Tube diameter
Flow over Bank of Tubes
1) In a surface condenser, hot water flows through staggered tubes while the liquid coolant is
passed in cross flow over a tube bank. The temperature and velocity of the coolant are 30o C and
8 m/s resp. The longitudinal and transverse pitches are 22 mm and 20 mm resp. The tube outside
diameter is 18 mm and tube surface temperature is 90 o C. Calculate the heat transfer coefficient
Given:
Fluid Temperature, Tά = 30o C Velocity, U = 8 m/s Longitudinal pitch, Sl = 0.022 m
Transverse pitch, St = 0.020 m Diameter, D = 0.018 mm Surface temperature, Tw = 90o C
To find: 1. Heat transfer coefficient ( h )

Solution:
Film Temp, Tf = (Tw+ Tά) /2 Max velocity, Umax = U x (St / (St – D))
Tf = 60o C Umax = 80 m/s

Properties of air at 60o C Re = (Umax D/γ)

ρ = 1.060 kg/m3 Re = 7.5 x 104
k = 0.02896 W/mK
γ = 18.97 x 10-6 m2/s
For a flow over tube of banks,
Pr = 0.696
Nu = 1,13 (Pr)0.333 C (Re)n (for other than air)
Forced convection – Flow over Cylinders
Value of C & n is based on St/D & Sl/D ratio

St /D = 1.11 & Sl/D = 1.22

Corresponding C value is 0.518 & n value is 0.556. (HMT Data book, Pg: 122)

Nu = 1,13 (Pr)0.333 0.518 (Re)0.556

Nu = 266.3

Average h = (Nu k / D)
h = 428.6 W/m2K

Average heat transfer coefficient = 428.6 W/m2K