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Experiment 07 (Free Convection)

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Nouman Nisar
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47 views5 pages

Experiment 07 (Free Convection)

Uploaded by

Nouman Nisar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Course code and Name: Heat Transfer and Date:

HVAC Lab (ME-424L)

Experiment No: 07 Course Instructor: Engr. Saqib Khan

Name of Student: Semester: 8th

Registration No: Section:

Experiment Name: Evaluating the relationship between Power input and Surface temperature in
free convection

Objectives
 To know about the free convection
 To evaluate the relationship between Power input and Surface
temperature in free convection
 To find the relationship between Flat, Finned and Pinned type Plates in
free convection

Equipment/ The Heat Transfer Unit consists of a vertical rectangular duct supported by stand and a
Apparatus control panel. A flat plate pinned or finned exchanger may be installed in the duct and
Description secured by a quick-release catch on each side. Each exchanger incorporates an electric
heating element with thermostatic protection against overheating. The temperature at
the base of each exchanger is monitored by a thermistor sensor with connecting lead

The exchanger in use may be viewed through an acrylic window in the wall of the
duct. An upward flow of air may be generated in the duct with a variable speed fan
mounted at the top of rectangular duct.

Fig. Free and Forced convection Heat


Transfer Unit
Theoretical Free Convection:
Background: Free convection also known as natural convection, is a mechanism, or type of mass
and heat transport, in which the fluid motion is generated only by density differences
in the fluid occurring due to temperature gradients, not by any external source (like a
pump, fan, suction device, etc.).

If a flat surface is heated to a temperature above that of its surroundings heat will be
transferred from it by means of convection and radiation. The amount of heat
apportioned to each method of heat loss will depend upon the temperature of the
surface and its emissivity.

Assuming the surface is not at elevated temperatures the majority of heat will be lost
due to convection caused by a local increase in buoyancy adjacent to the surface
causing an upward flow. For a simple flat plate, the amount of heat lost will be small
due to the low heat transfer coefficient.

In order to increase the rate of heat transfer one method is to extend the surface by the
addition of conducting fins or pins.

Fig. Schematic Diagram of Fins and Pin layout

1) Flat Plate Heat Exchanger: This is the Flat Plate Heat Exchanger. Note that the
surface thermocouple T1 recording the plate temperature is connected to the control
console through the plug shown at the bottom of the picture.

Fig. Flat Plate Heat Exchanger


2) Pinned Plate Heat Exchanger:
This is the Pinned Plate heat exchanger. Note that the surface thermocouple T1
recording the plate temperature is connected to the control console through one of the
four connecting plug shown at the bottom of the picture.

Fig. Pinned Plate Heat Exchanger

3) Finned Plate Heat Exchanger:


This is the Finned Plate heat exchanger. Note that the surface thermocouple T1
recording the plate temperature is connected to the control console through one of the
four connecting plug shown at the right of the picture.

Fig. Finned Plate Heat Exchanger

Procedure:  Place the fan assembly on to the top of the duct and ensure to switched
off. For natural (Free) convection the fan will not be used.
 Place the finned heat exchanger into the duct.
 Set the heater power control to minimum. Allow sufficient time to
achieve steady state conditions before noting the heated plate
temperature (T1) in case of Flat Plate, for Pinned (T1, T2,T3), for
Finned (T1, T2, T3).
 Finally reduce the heater voltage to zero, remove the plate from the
tunnel and replace it with alternative plate.
 Repeat the procedure for separate heat exchanger types (Finned, Pinned
and Flat).
 Plot a graph of Power input and surface temperature. Also, plot a graph
for Tavg of all three plates.
Observations
and No. Flat Plate Pinned Plate
calculations: V I Q T1 T1 T2 T3 Tavg

No. Finned Plate


T1 T2 T3 Tavg

Graphical Representation:
Results and
Conclusions:

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