UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Objective
1. To determine the heat transfer coefficient of moving water to Aluminium
2. To determine the Biot Number of Aluminium

Summary
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the heat transfer coefficient of moving
water to Aluminium and also determine the Biot Number of Aluminium. Under Steady state
conditions the temperature within the system does not change with time. Conversely, under
unsteady state conditions the temperature within the system does vary with time. The SOLTEQ
Unsteady-state Heat Transfer Unit (HE 178) has been designed to run experiments on unsteady
state heat transfer. The temperature at the centre was determined by referring to Heisler Chart.
The temperature for Sphere is 48.7 C, for slab is 47.4 C and for cylinder is 50.0 C. When
compare the reading for time 70 seconds for both solid, aluminum and stainless steel,
shows that the aluminum is more efficient in heat conduction because the center
temperature is more high than stainless steel especially for cylinder where the center
temperature near to 55 C at 70s. Based from the theory, the higher the center
temperature, the efficiency in heat conduction of the material increased. Finally, the
temperature at the center of sphere by using Heisler Chart at time t = 95s is 51.8 C, for slab
is 49.8 C and for cylinder is 51.7 C. The NBi is calculating to know the assumption is
reasonably accurate or not. The NBi be less than 0.1 shows the experiment is successful.
After calculate, the result shows that the NBi for sphere is 0.002165, for cylinder is
0.002434, and for slab is 0.003245. The NBi for all the shapes are less than 0.1 identified
that the experiment is valid.

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Introduction
Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy from a body, at a high temperature, to another
at a lower temperature.

This transfer of thermal energy may occur under steady or unsteady

state conditions. Under Steady state conditions the temperature within the system does not
change with time. Conversely, under unsteady state conditions the temperature within the
system does vary with time.
Unsteady state conditions are a precursor to steady state conditions. No system exists
initially under steady state conditions. Some time must pass, after heat transfer is initiated,
before the system reaches steady state. During that period of transition the system is under
unsteady state conditions.
Clearly, no system can remain under unsteady state conditions perpetually. The temperature
of the system will eventually reach the temperature of the heat source, and once this happens, the
system will be at steady state. Even if the amount of heat being transferred into the system is
increased, at some point the system reaches its critical temperature and the energy transferred
into it the starts causing phase changes within the system rather than temperatures increases.
The SOLTEQ Unsteady-state Heat Transfer Unit (HE 178) has been designed to run
experiments on unsteady state heat transfer. It supplied with a heated water bath and a set of
solid shapes with built-in temperature sensor to monitor the temperature at the centre of the
shape that allow analyze the heat flow using an appropriate transient temperature of heat flow
chart provided. Basically it consists of two sets of simple shape (solid sphere, rectangular slab
and long solid cylinder) made up of brass and stainless steel. Each of the shape has a built-in
temperature sensor to measure the temperature at the centre of the shape. Measurement taken can
be used to confirm the conductivity of a similar shape with different material.
The water bath has a capacity of 30L and is heated by 3.0kW. The large volume of water in
the bath ensures that change in the temperature of the water, as the measurements are taken is
negligible. The velocity of the water can be varied by adjusting the voltage supplied to the pump.

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

The heat transfer characteristics and also the water temperature surround the shape remains
constant due to the upward flow of water at constant velocity past the shape.

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Results and Discussions

Slab

Sphere

Cylinder

Time (s)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

26.4

23.0

25.1

26.4

23.0

25.1

-0.0116

10

30.9

26.2

-0.034

30.7

-0.054

15

34.7

-0.044

30.1

-0.132

34.9

-0.150

20

36.6

-0.078

32.5

-0.242

37.7

-0.264

25

38.8

-0.123

34.7

-0.336

40.4

-0.340

30

42.2

-0.160

37.1

-0.499

44.0

-0.572

35

42.0

-0.182

39.2

-0.621

43.8

-0.563

40

42.9

-0.218

41.1

-0.809

45.2

-0.783

45

43.8

-0.258

43.3

-1.012

46.6

-0.877

50

44.6

-0.291

44.5

-1.193

47.6

-1.265

55

45.4

-0.525

45.6

-1.347

48.3

-1.465

60

46.2

-0.564

46.6

-1.558

49.0

-1.724

65

46.9

-0.739

47.7

-1.801

49.5

-1.958

70

47.4

-0.781

48.7

-2.065

50.0

-2.185

75

48.0

-0.831

49.5

-2.371

50.4

-2.436

80

48.5

-0.971

50.2

-2.742

51.0

-2.912

85

49.0

-1.058

50.9

-3.281

51.1

-3.202

90

49.3

-1.079

51.4

-3.992

51.6

-3.856

95

49.8

-1.147

51.8

-6.016

51.7

-5.590

100

50.2

-1.246

52.3

-4.155

51.9

-4.071

105

50.4

-1.376

52.7

-3.485

52.4

-3.162

110

50.6

-1.481

52.9

-3.253

52.5

-2.860

115

50.9

-1.253

53.2

-2.972

120

51.2

-1.716

53.5

-2.797

125

51.3

-1.855

53.7

-2.689

130

51.6

-1.987

53.8

-2.639

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Slab

Sphere

Cylinder

Time (s)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

135

51.7

-2.381

53.9

-2.587

140

52.2

-2.437

54.2

-2.457

145

52.4

-2.510

54.3

-2.417

150

52.5

-2.721

T ( oC)

50.5

51.7

Table 1: Table for Stainless Steel

Slab

To=22.7oC

Sphere

To=23.0oC

Cylinder

To=26.5oC

To: Temperature at time 0

T: Temperature (water bath)

50.6

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

T

Slab

Sphere

Cylinder

Time (s)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

24.0

22.8

28.2

27.0

-0.134

25.7

-0.1002

27.0

-0.122

10

30.7

-0.350

29.5

-0.2492

30.1

-0.235

15

34.2

-0.673

32.4

-0.3797

34.2

-0.247

20

36.4

-0.758

34.9

-0.5081

37.2

-0.545

25

38.8

-0.910

37.0

-0.6301

40.3

-0.798

30

40.8

-1.065

38.9

-0.7555

42.8

-0.816

35

42.4

-1.087

40.6

-0.8828

44.9

-0.951

40

43.8

-1.106

42.0

-1.0021

46.3

-1.134

45

45.0

-1.230

43.3

-1.1273

47.6

-1.302

50

46.2

-1.379

44.6

-1.2704

48.7

-1.341

55

47.0

-1.601

45.4

-1.3711

49.5

-1.589

60

47.8

-1.799

46.3

-1.4965

50.3

-1.766

65

48.5

-1.995

47.0

-1.6045

50.9

-1.891

70

48.9

-2.147

47.9

-1.7675

51.5

-2.001

75

49.4

-2.342

48.6

-1.9161

52.0

-2.013

80

49.8

-2.550

49.2

-2.0617

52.5

-2.157

85

50.4

-2.674

49.7

-2.2016

52.9

-2.233

90

50.6

-2.734

50.0

-2.2993

53.0

-2.440

95

50.9

-3.465

50.4

-2.4452

53.4

-3.259

100

51.0

-3.743

50.9

-2.6578

53.5

-3.598

105

51.4

-3.987

51.0

-2.7164

53.7

-2.001

110

51.6

-4.901

51.0

-2.7214

53.8

-1.962

115

51.9

-5.675

51.2

-2.8274

120

52.0

-3.224

51.4

-2.9534

125

52.2

-3.012

51.7

-3.1734

130

52.5

-2.344

51.6

-3.0970

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

T

Slab

Sphere

Cylinder

Time (s)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

T(oC)

ln (T-T)/(T0-T)

135

52.6

-1.463

51.7

-3.1814

140

51.8

-3.2735

47.2

52.9

Table 2: Table for Aluminium

Slab

To=24.3oC

Sphere

To=25.0oC

Cylinder

To=24.8oC

To: Temperature at time 0

T: Water bath temperature

50.6

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

ln (T-T/T-T) vs Time (s)

0
-0.5 0

50

100

150

200

-1
-1.5

ln (T-T/T-T)

-2
-2.5
-3

slab stainless steel

-3.5
-4

sphere stainless
steel

-4.5
-5

cylinder stainless
steel

-5.5
-6
-6.5
-7

Time (s)

Figure 1: Graph of ln (T-T)/(T0-T) vs Time (s) for Stainless Steel

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

ln (T-T/T-T) vs time (s)

0
-0.5 0

50

100

150

-1

ln (T-T/T-T)

-1.5
-2
-2.5

slab aluminium

-3

sphere aluminium

-3.5

cylinder aluminium

-4
-4.5
-5
-5.5
-6

Time (s)

Figure 2: Graph of ln (T-T)/(T0-T) vs Time (s) for Aluminium

Unsteady-state heat transfer is important because of the large number of heating

and cooling problems occurring industrially. Two experiments are conducted to meet the
objectives of each experiment respectively. In experiment one; we used aluminium to
determine the heat transfer coefficient of moving water and to determine the Biot Number
of aluminium whereas for experiment two, we used stainless steel to compare the
experimental and the theoretical center temperatures profile of stainless steel. Three
different shapes consists of sphere, cylinder and the slab are used in both experiments
which to identify good surface area to determine the center temperature of each shapes.
Measurement taken on a shape of a particular material can be used to confirm the

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

conductivity of a similar shape of different material. Monitoring of temperature at the
center of shape allows analysis of heat flow using the appropriate transienttemperature/heat flow charts provided.
In experiment one, aluminum is used to determine the heat transfer coefficient (h)
by using the formula m

hA
where the value for m is the dimensionless parameters for
C p V

use in Heisler Chart means the slope is get from the graph ln (T- T / To- T) versus t for
each shape. The value of h for sphere is 644.39 W/m2 K, for cylinder is 4327.8 W/m2 K and
for slab is 3568.4 W/m2 K. For this experiment, the heat transfer coefficient of moving
water to aluminium is represented with the value of h. The value of h is determined to
describe the heat leaves a surface, as a function of the temperature difference between the
surface and the ambient. h is the function of the system geometry, fluid properties, and flow
velocity and temperature difference.
The value of h is used in the formula to identify the Biot Number (NBi) by using the
formula NBi =

hx1
which is dimensionless. The NBi compares the relative values of internal
k

conduction resistance and surface convective resistance to heat transfer. Theoretically, the
less the NBi means the faster heat conduction inside the body than the heat conduction
away from its surface. The NBi is calculating to know the assumption is reasonably accurate
or not. The NBi be less than 0.1 shows the experiment is successful. After calculate, the
result shows that the NBi for sphere is 0.002165, for cylinder is 0.002434, and for slab is
0.003245. The NBi for all the shapes are less than 0.1 identified that the experiment is valid.
The Biot Number (NBi) for sphere is the lowest among the other shapes. This shows
that the best surface area for aluminum is sphere where the entire surface is joining in the
water bath. So, the temperature is faster heat conduction inside the body than the heat
conduction away from its surface.
The stainless steel is used in experiment two to compare the different result in
experiment one by using aluminum. These experiment used different solution to identify

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

the temperature at the center where is used Heisler Chart. Initial temperature (To) for
sphere is 23.0c, for slab is 22.7c and for cylinder is 26.5c. The water bath temperature
(T) for sphere is 51.7c, for slab is 50.5c and for cylinder is 50.6c.
After calculate the needed parameters and refer the Heisler Chart, the temperature
at the center was determined. The temperature for Sphere is 48.7 C, for slab is 47.4 C and
for cylinder is 50.0 C. When compare the reading for time 70 seconds for both solid,
aluminum and stainless steel, shows that the aluminum is more efficient in heat conduction
because the center temperature is more high than stainless steel especially for cylinder
where the center temperature near to 55 C at 70s. Based from the theory, the higher the
center temperature, the efficiency in heat conduction of the material increased. Finally, the
temperature at the center of sphere by using Heisler Chart at time t = 95s is 51.8 C, for slab
is 49.8 C and for cylinder is 51.7 C.

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Conclusion
In conclusion, for both experiment a different material were used. In experiment
one, the material used was aluminium. The heat transfer coefficient, h of moving water for
shape of sphere was 644.39 W/m2 K, cylinder 4327.8 W/m2 K and slab 3568.4 W/m2 K. The
value of h is determined to describe the heat leaves a surface, as a function of the
temperature difference between the surface and the ambient. h is the function of the
system geometry, fluid properties, and flow velocity and temperature difference. The Biot
Number (NBi) was also calculated for both experiment. The NBi for sphere was 0.002165,
cylinder 0.002434 and slab 0.003245. The NBi for all the shapes are less than 0.1whereby it
showed that the experiment valid. A stainless steel was used in experiment two to compare
the result with aluminium. . The center temperature for sphere was 48.7 C, slab 47.4 C
and cylinder 50.0 C. When compare the reading for time 70 seconds for both solid,
aluminum and stainless steel, it clearly showed that the aluminum is more efficient in heat
conduction because the center temperature is higher than stainless steel.

References
1) Chopey, N.P Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations , 2nd Edition, McGraw
Hill, 1994
2) Perry, R.H. Green D.W. and Maloney, J.O Perry`s Chemical Engineering Handbook ,
6th Edition, McGraw Hill, 1984
3) Christi J. Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Unit Operations, 3rd Edition, Prentice
Hall International Edition, 1995, pp 217-219

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Appendix
A. Calculation Stainless Steel
1.0 Slab
1 =
=
= 0.01 m

= (4.201 10 -6

) (150 s) / (0.01m) 2

= 6.3015

m=

= 15.2

/ (612

= 2.4837

Graph: 0.13 Y0
Y0 =
0.13 =

) (0.01m)

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

T = 48.63 C

2.0 Sphere
X

= (4.201 10 -6

) (145 s) / (6.667 x 10-3)2

= 13.7044

m=

= 15.2

/ (473

= 4.82

Graph: 0.0012 Y0
Y0 =

0.0012

T = 54.20C

3.0 Cylinder
X1 =

) (6.667 10 -3 m)

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

= 7.5 10-3 m

= (4.201 10 -6

) (110 s) / (7.5 10-3 m)2

= 8.215

m=

= 15.2

/ (502

= 4.0371

Graph: 0.02 Y0
Y0 =
0.02 =

T = 51.98 C

) (7.5 10-3 m)

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

B. Calculation for Aluminum
1.0 Slab
m=
-0.0041s = -h (0.0151m2) / (896

h = 66.21
X1 = 0.01 m

X1

= (8.411 10 -5

) (135 s) / (0.01m) 2

= 113.55

Bi =

) (0.01m) / 204

Bi = (66.21

= 3.245 10-3

Graph: 0.001 Y0
Y0 =
0.001 =

T = 53.77 C

2707

4 (0.02m) 3

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

2.0 Sphere
X1 = =
= 6.667 10 -3 m

Bi =

) (6.667 10 -3 m) / 204

Bi = (66.21

= 2.165 10-3

Graph: 0.0013 Y0

Y0

0.0013 =

T = 51.76 C

3.0 Cylinder
X1 = 7.5 10-3 m
X1

= (8.411 10 -5
= 164.48

) (110 s) / (7.5 10-3 m) 2

UNSTEADY STATE HEAT TRANSFER CLB21003 2013

Bi =

) (7.5 10-3 m) / 204

Bi = (66.21

= 2.434 10-3

Graph: 0.002 Y0
Y0 =
0.002 =

T = 53.75 C