ME 201

HEAT TRANSFER

SPLM 2 ||
CONVECTION &
RADIATION
1. CONVECTION
When a fluid, such as air or a liquid, is heated and then
travels away from the source, it carries thermal energy
along. This type of heat transfer is called convection. The
fluid above a hot surface expands, becomes less dense,
and rises.

Heat energy transferred between a surface and a

moving fluid with different temperatures - is known as
convection.
In reality this is a combination of diffusion and bulk motion of molecules. Near the
surface the fluid velocity is low, and diffusion dominates. At distance from the surface,
bulk motion increases the influence and dominates.

Convective heat transfer can be

• forced or assisted convection
• natural or free convection

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Forced or Assisted Convection
Forced convection occurs when a fluid flow is induced by an external force,
such as a pump, fan or a mixer.

Natural or Free Convection

Natural convection is caused by buoyancy forces due to dens ity
differences caused by temperature variations in the fluid. At heating the
density change in the boundary layer will cause the fluid to rise and be
replaced by cooler fluid that also will heat and rise. This continues
phenomena is called free or natural convection.

Boiling or condensing processes are also referred to as a convective heat

transfer processes.

The heat transfer per unit surface through convection was first described
by Newton and the relation is known as the Newton's Law of Cooling.
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The equation for convection can be expressed as:

𝑄 = ℎ𝑐 𝐴Δt = ℎ𝑐 𝐴 𝑡1 − 𝑡2 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠

Where:

𝑄 = heat transferred with unit time, W, BTU/hr

W
ℎ𝑐 = surface coefficient associated with convection,
m2
𝐴 = heat transfer area, m²

𝑡1 = hot surface temperature, °C

𝑡2 = fluid temperature, °C

Heat Transfer Coefficients - Units

• 1 W/(m2K) = 0.85984 kcal/(h m2oC) = 0.1761 Btu/(ft2 h oF)
• 1 Btu/(ft2 h oF) = 5.678 W/(m2 K) = 4.882 kcal/(h m2oC)
• 1 kcal/(h m2oC) = 1.163 W/(m2K) = 0.205 Btu/(ft2 h oF)
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Heat transfer coefficient with specific heat:

𝑄 = 𝑚𝐶𝑝 Δt = 𝑚𝐶𝑝 𝑡2 − 𝑡1 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠

Where:
𝑄 = heat transferred with unit time, W, BTU/hr
𝑚 = mass flow rate, kg/s
𝐶𝑝 = specific heat, J/kg − °C
Δt = temperature difference

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Most important dimensionless
group in the analysis of heat
convection:

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a. REYNOLD’S NUMBER, 𝑵𝑹𝑬
Reynold’s number is a dimensionless number which is significant in the design of a
model of any system in which the effect of viscosity is important in controlling the
velocities or the flow pattern of a fluid; equal to the product of density, of velocity
and characteristics length divided by the fluid viscosity

𝑉𝐷
𝑁𝑅𝐸 =
μ𝑘

Where:
V = velocity (m/s)
D = diameter used as characteristic length (m)
μ𝑘 = kinematic viscosity (in m²/s) (where μ𝑘 = μ𝑑 /ρ
μ𝑑 = dynamic viscosity (in Pa-s)
Ρ = density (kg/m³)
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b. PRANDLT’S NUMBER, 𝑵𝑷𝒓
Prandlt Number is a dimensionless number used in the study of forced and free
convection, equal to the dynamic viscosity times the specific heat at constant
pressure divided by the thermal conductivity.

μ𝑑 𝐶𝑝
𝑁𝑃𝑟 =
𝑘

Where:
μ𝑑 = dynamic viscosity
𝐶𝑝 = specific heat
k = thermal conductivity

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c. NUSSELT’S NUMBER, 𝑵𝑵μ
Nusselt number is a dimensionless number used in the study of forced convection
which gives a measure of the ratio of the total heat transfer which gives a measure
of the ratio of the total heat transfer to conductive heat transfer, and is equal to the
heat-transfer coefficient times the characteristic length divided by the thermal
conductivity.

ℎ𝐷
𝑁𝑁μ =
𝑘

Where:
h = heat transfer coefficient

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d. GRASHOF NUMBER, 𝑵𝑮𝑹
Grashof number is a dimensionless number used in the study of the free convection
of a fluid caused by a hot body. It is equal to the product of the fluids coefficient of
thermal expansion, the temperature difference between the hot body and the fluid,
the cube of a typical dimension of a body and the square if the fluid density divided
by the square of the fluid’s dynamic viscosity.

𝑁𝐺𝑟
𝐷³ρ²β𝑔∆𝑡
=
𝑘
Where:
D = Diameter used as characteristic length
ρ = density of the fluid
β = coefficient of thermal expansion
∆𝑡 = temperature change between the surface and the fluid

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SAMPLE #1
Brine enters a cooler at a rate of 50m3/hr at 15C and leaves at 1C. Specific heat and specific gravity of
brine are 1.07 KJ/kg-K and 1.1 respectively. Calculate the heat transferred in kW.

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1. RADIATION
Radiation is the mode of heat transfer through
electromagnetic wave. Anything whose temperature is
above the surrounding will always radiate of significant
amount. The Stefan-Boltzmann Law (otherwise known
as the fourth power Law) governs radiation heat transfer.
:The Radiant heat exchange between two surfaces can be computed from the
Stefan- Boltzmann Law:

𝑄
=𝑒𝜎𝐴 𝑇1 4 − 𝑇2 4
, 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
𝑡

Where:

Q/t = heat transmitted by radiation per unit time (J/s or W)

e = emissivity factor (from 0 to 1.0)

σ = 5.67 x 10^(-8) W/m²-K⁴

A = radiating surface area

T₁ = absolute temperature of surface radiating heat, K

T₂ = absolute temperature of surface receiving heat, K

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THE CONCEPT OF A PERFECT BLACK BODY
Perfect Black Body is a body that absorbs all
electromagnetic radiation. It absorbs all wavelength such
no reflection occurs.

When radiant energy falls on a body, part may

be absorbed, part reflected, and the remainder transmitted
through the body. In mathematical form;

a+r+t = 1

where:
a = fraction of the total energy absorbed.
r = reflectivity or the fraction of the total energy
reflected
t= transmitted or the fraction of the total energy
transmitted through the body.
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PLANCK’S LAW
All substances emit radiation, the quantity and
quality of which depends upon the absolute temperature
and the properties of the material, composing the
radiating body.

KIRCHHOFF’S LAW
For bodies in thermal equilibrium with their
environment, the ratio of total emissive power to the
absorptivity is constant at any temperature.

STEFAN- BOLTZMANN LAW

The total energy emitted by a black body is
proportional to the fourth power to the absolute
temperature of the body.

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SAMPLE #2

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end

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