3 Natural Convection

Mechanical Engg.
Dept, VIT,
3/1/2022
Pune
Presented by
Prof. (Dr.) Sunil Shinde
Mechanical Engg. Department,
VIT, Pune, INDIA 1
3/1/2022
Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune
To study the phenomenon of natural
convection and variation of heat transfer co-
efficient over the surface in natural convection
mode
2
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Heat transfer is defined as energy transfer between
two bodies due to temperature difference.

 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation
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Transfer of heat due to physical movement of
particles which requires fluid as a medium is

convection heat transfer.
Convection Advection + Diffusion
Bulk motion Random motion
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Natural convection
Motion and mixing of fluid is caused by density
variation resulting from temperature difference.
Forced convection
Motion and mixing of fluid is caused by

external means such as fans, pumps or 5
atmospheric means.
3/1/2022 Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune
6
Mechanisms of Natural Convection
Consider a hot object exposed to cold air. The temperature of
the outside of the object will drop (as a result of heat transfer
with cold air), and the temperature of adjacent air to the object
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will rise.
 Consequently, the object is surrounded with a thin layer of
warmer air and heat will be transferred from this layer to the

outer layers of air.
Fig. 1: Natural convection heat transfer from a hot body.
The temperature of the air adjacent to the hot object is higher,
thus its density is lower.
As a result, the heated air rises. This movement is called the
natural convection current.
Note that in the absence of this movement, heat transfer
would be by conduction only and its rate would be much lower.
In a gravitational field, there is a net force that pushes a light
fluid placed in a heavier fluid upwards. This force is called the
buoyancy force.
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Let q = heat transfer
t = time
∆T = temperature difference
A= Heat transfer area
Since heat transfer is directly proportional to time, temperature

difference and heat transfer area
q t ∆T A
q’ ∆T.A …..(q/t = q’)
q’ = h. A.∆T
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where h = heat transfer co-efficient
In case of convection heat transfer, heat flow is
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….2
where,
h = Convective heat transfer coefficient depending on the shape&
orientation
Equating the equation 1 & 2 , we get
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Where upon fluid become more efficient at carrying heat and h can
turn out to be 102 – 104 times ( k/ L ) is called Nusselt number ( Nu).
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Nu is a dimensionless quantity .
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Gr = {g * β (Ts-T∞) L^3 } / v^2
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g = gravitational acceleration, m/s2

β = coefficient of volume expansion, 1/K
L = characteristic length of the geometry, m
ν = kinematics viscosity of the fluid, m2/s
Ra = Gr * Pr
Pr = Prandtl number
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Natural convection on a surface depends on the geometry of
the surface as well as its orientation.
 Depends on the variation of temperature on the surface and

the thermophysical properties of the fluid.
 The velocity and temperature distribution for natural
convection over a hot vertical plate are shown in Fig. 2.
Note that the velocity at the edge of the boundary layer

becomes zero.
It is expected since the fluid beyond the boundary layer is
stationary.
The shape of the velocity and temperature profiles, in the cold
plate case, remains the same but their direction is reversed.
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13
Fig.2
Voltmeter
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Thermocouple

Temperature
indicator
Copper tube
Ammeter
Dimmer stat
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Temperature indicator : 0 to 400
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Voltmeter : 0 to 1 kV

Ammeter : 0 to 5 A
Heater : 500 W
Dimmer – Stat : 0 to 1 kW
Outer tube diameter (D) : 45 mm
Outer tube length (L) : 485 mm
Thermocouple : ‘k’ type
Heating element length : 30 mm 15
Heating element diameter : 475 mm

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1. Switch on the mains and adjust dimmer-stat to supply

particular voltage to heating element.
2. Wait for steady state to be attained.
3. Note the temperatures recorded by thermocouples at all
interfaces of surface.
4. Note down ambient temperature.
5. Note down current and voltage suuplied to heating element.
6. Change voltage input to heater to get different set of readings.
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17
T9
T8
T7
I=
T6
T5
T4
T3
T2
Sr.no T1
V=
3
3/1/2022
Length of the pipe = 0.485 m
Diameter of pipe = 0.045 m

Length of heater = 0.475 m
A = Πdl = π*0.045*0.485 =0.068565 m^2
Q = V*I =
Ts = (T1+T2+T3+T4+T5+T6+T7+T8)/8 =
hpractical = Q/A(Ts-T9) =
T = (Ts+T9)/2
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htheortical = (Nu*k)/L=
Sr.no h hpractical htherotical Nusselt distance
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no
1
2

3
4
5
6
7
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The heat transfer coefficient from practical experiment is greater
than heat transfer coefficient from theoretical correlation.

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REFERENCES
 Text Books
 “Fundamentals of Engineering Heat and Mass
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Transfer”, Sachdeva R. C., Wiley Eastern Limited, 3rd
Edition 1988.
 “A text book on Heat Transfer” Sukhatme S. P., Orient
Longmans Ltd., New Delhi, 3rd Edition, 1989.
 “Heat Transfer- A Basic Approach”, Ozisik M. N.,
McGraw Hill, I edition, 1985.

 Reference Books
 “Fundamentals of Heat Transfer”, Frank P. Incropera
and David P. De Witt, Wiley, Eastern Limited
 “Heat Transfer”, J. P. Holman, McGraw Hill, 9th
edition, 2004.
 “Engineering Heat Transfer”, Gupta and Prakash,
Nemchand and Brothers

22

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Mechanical Engg.

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Convection Advection + Diffusion

Bulk motion Random motion

Motion and mixing of fluid is caused by

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Since heat transfer is directly proportional to time, temperature

q’ ∆T.A …..(q/t = q’)

Equating the equation 1 & 2 , we get

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Note that the velocity at the edge of the boundary layer

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Outer tube diameter (D) : 45 mm

Outer tube length (L) : 485 mm

Thermocouple : ‘k’ type

Heating element length : 30 mm 15

Heating element diameter : 475 mm

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

A = Πdl = π*0.045*0.485 =0.068565 m^2

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

Mechanical Engg. Dept, VIT, Pune

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A = Πdl = π0.0450.485 =0.068565 m^2