ME3122 Solutions to Tutorial Set 3

1. Using the energy integral equation determine an expression for the heat transfer
coefficient by assuming the following velocity and temperature profiles:
u u constant and (T TW ) /(T TW ) y / t
where t is the thermal boundary layer thickness.
Solution:
Energy Integral Equation:

d
dx
Given

Therefore,

T TW
y
,

T TW
t

uT T dy Ty
t

y 0

T 1
.(T TW )
y t

T TW
T T
y

1
1
T TW
T TW
t

Substituting the above and u u into energy integral equation, we get

u T TW

d t y
k 1
0 1dy T TW
dx t
C p t

Integrating
u d
k 1
( t )
C p t
2 dx
d ( t2 )
4k

C p u
dx

or

t2

4kx
;
C pu t

4kx
C pu

Now:

T
h(Tw T )
y w

qcoduction = qconvection

h(Tw T ) k (T Tw )
4kx
h k
C u
t
p

1/ 2

t
1/ 2

C p u k

4x

2. Glycerine at 30C flows past a 30cm square flat plate at a velocity of 1.5 m/s. The drag
force is measured as 10.98 N (for both sides of the plate). Calculate the heat transfer
coefficient for such a flow system. At 30C, properties of glycerine are:
1 2 5 8 k g / m 3 ; C p 2 .4 5 5 k J / k g K ; v 0 .0 0 0 5 0 m 2 / s ;

k 0 .2 6 8 W / m K ;

Pr 5380

Solution:

Reynolds Analogy:

St x Pr 2/3 =

Cf x
2

where

St x

hx
C p u

For one side of the plate:

F
10.98

61N / m2
2 A 2 0.32

2 61
C fx 1 w 2
0.0431
u
1258

1.522

Substituting:

St x

0.5 0.0431
7.015 105
2/3
5380

Therefore:
hx 7.015 10 5 C p u
7.015 10 5 1258 2445 1.5
323.68W / m 2 K

3. Atmospheric air at 25C flows over a plate at a velocity of 60 m/s. The plate of width 1m
and length 0.75m is maintained at a uniform temperature of 230C by independentlycontrolled, electrical strip heaters, each of which is 50mm long in the direction of the
airflow.
a) Determine at which heater does the flow undergo a transition from laminar to
turbulent flow.
b) Determine at which heater is the heat input a maximum
c) Determine the value of this heat input
d) Determine the heat input for the first heater
e) Determine the heat input for the first three heaters
f) Determine the heat input for the entire plate

Solution:

Air u = 60 m/s
T = 25C
x

Heaters
x=L

xc

hx

Turbulent b.l
hx ~ x-0.2

Laminar b.l
hx ~ x-0.5

xc

Given:

T 25 C ; Tw 230 C ; w 1m; L 0.75m

u 60m / s; Heater length 0.05m
T f (Tw T ) / 2 127.5 C 400 K
Rogers and Mayhew tables (air ) gives
c p 1.0135kJ / kgK ; 2.286 105 kg / m.s;
k 3.365 102 W / mK ; 0.8824kg / m3 ; Pr 0.688
a)

Rec 5 105 u xc / . Substituting gives xc =0.216m

Since each heater is 0.05m, therefore transition to turbulent flow occurs at heater No.5
b) hx at 6th heater (turbulent flow) is highest, because at 5th heater hx is the average of the
laminar and turbulent flow values ---as shown in graph.

c)

To find hx over the 6th heater, find the hx at its midpoint, i.e. at x=0.275m.

hx .x
0.0296 Re x 0.8 Pr1/ 3
k
for turbulent b.l flow

local Nu x

0.8

u x
k
hx 0.0296 0.6881/ 3 @ x 0.275
x

hx 140.6W / m 2 K
Q hx l.1(230 25) 1441W

d) Over first heater --- laminar flow

h .x
average Nu x x 0.664 Re x1/ 2 Pr1/ 3
k
for x L 0.05 for laminar b.l. flow

Substituting : hx 134.1W / m2 K
Q 134.1 (0.05 1)(205) 1375W
e) Over first 3 heaters--- laminar flow
h .x
Nu L L 0.664 Re x1/ 2 Pr1/ 3 2 Nu x
k
for x L 3 0.05 0.15m :

x L

hL 77.5W / m 2 K
Q 77.5 (0.15 1)(205) 2383W
f) Over the entire plate flow is laminar-turbulent
h L
Average Nu L L. (0.037 Re L 0.8 871) Pr1/ 3
k
for (mixed) laminar-turbulent b.l. flow
k
hL (0.037 Re L 0.8 871) Pr1/ 3 ;
L
for x L 0.75m :
Re L 0.8 98139

; hL 109.3

Q hL .L.(230 25) 16.81kW

Note: for Part c, to be precise, apply Nu L equation for L= 5 x 0.05 and for L= 6 x 0.05 to get
hL for each case.
Determine Q1 for L = 0 to L = 0.25, and Q2 for L = 0 to L = 0.30.
Then get Q2 Q1.
The difference between this and our more convenient method is small.

4. A light breeze at 4.47 m/s blows across a metal building. The height of the building is
3.7m and the width is 6.1m. A net energy flux of 347 W/m2 from the sun is absorbed in
the wall and subsequently dissipated to the surroundings by convection. Assuming that
the air is at 27C and 1 atmosphere, estimate the average temperature that the wall will
attain under equilibrium conditions.

Solution:
Air u= 4.47m/s
T= 27C,
x
Tw=?

qw =347 W/m2

T 27 C 300 K ; L 6.1m ( area 6.1 3.70)

u 4.47 m / s; Constant q 347W / m 2
wall temperature Tw and film temperature T f (Tw T ) / 2
are unknown and to be determined.

Approach: Approximation / assumption is reqd .

i ) First assume T f T 300 K or any reasonable value
Properties of air at 300K:

1.846 105 kg / m.s; k 2.264 102 W / mK ;

1.177kg / m3 ; Pr 0.707
u L 1.177 4.47 6.1
Re L
1.74 106 5 105
5
1.846 10

laminar - turbulent flow over flat wall

hL. L
(0.037 Re L 0.8 871) Pr1/ 3
k
above expression is valid for isothermal wall but is assumed
average Nu L

also valid for constant heat flux wall

hL 10.68W / m 2 K
q. A 347 ( A) hL A.(Tw 27)
Tw 59.5 C
ii ) To improve accuracy, we may repeat calculations with
T f (Tw T ) / 2 (27 59.5) / 2
43.25 C 316.25K

5. Engine oil at the rate of 0.02 kg/s flows through a 3-mm diameter tube, 30m long. The oil
has an inlet temperature of 60C, while the tube wall temperature is maintained at 100C
by a stream condensing on its outer surface.
a) Estimate the average heat transfer coefficient for the internal flow of oil.
b) Determine the outlet temperature of the oil.
Take the properties of engine oil to be: cp = 2131 J/kgK, = 852 kg/m3, = 0.375x10-4
m2/s, k = 0.138 W/mK, Pr = 490.

Solution:
Engine oil
=0.02 kg/s
1

Tb1=600C

Tw=100C=const
d=0.003m
L=30m

Tw=const
2

Tb2=?

Tb2=?
Tb1=60C

Tube flow, constant Tw case (neglect entrance effects)

Properties of engine oil are given as : cp = 2131 J/kgK, = 852 kg/m3, = 0.375x10-4 m2/s, k
= 0.138 W/mK, Pr = 490.

Re

u d
4m

4 0.02 107
256.6 <2000
0.374 852 3
the flow is laminar
hd
Nud
3.66 (const Tw case)
k
3.66 0.138
h
168.4W / m 2 K
0.003

notes:
Lecture
notes
q mC
From equation
(8.23)
in lecture
p (Tb2 Tb1 ) hATLMTD
dL
T0
.h
exp
mC

Ti
p

100 Tb2

0.003 30 168.4
exp

100 60
0.02 2131

Tb2 86.9 C

6. Water at 25C enters a tube of diameter 0.02 m at mass flow rate of 0.01 kg/s and is to be
heated to a temperature of 65C. The outside of the tube is wrapped with an electric
heating element that produces a uniform heat flux of 20 kW/m2 over its entire length.
Determine the length of the tube required and the inner surface temperature of the tube at
the outlet. Determine the length of the tube required and the inner surface temperature of
the tube at the outlet if the flow rate of water is increased to 0.08kg/s. Comment on the
use of your equation to determine h.
q"=const
2

Water
T = 25 C

q"=20 kW/m

Tb1

Tb2

Tw

Tb2=65 C

Tb1=25 C
x

Solution:

d 0.02 m , m 0.01kg / s
Tb1 25 C ; Tb2 65 C
Tb (1 / 2)(25 65) 45 C
At 45 C : from the tables for water
c p 4181J / kg C ; 594 10 6 kg / ms
k 0.638W / mK , Pr 3.89
u d
4 m
4 0.01
Re d

d 594 10 6 0.02
1071.6 2000
the flow is laminar
hd
Nu d
4.36 for constant q w
k
h 4.36 0.638 / 0.02 139W / m 2 K

p (Tb2 Tb1 )
i ) q" dL mC
20000 0.02 L 0.01 4181 40
L 1.331m
ii ) Q hA(Tw Tb ) ;
(Tw Tb ) constant for constant q" tube flow
Q q " 20000

(Tw Tb ) 143.8
hA h 139.08
Tw2 143.8 65 208.8 C

iii) m 0.08kg / s 8 0.01kg / s

Red 8 1071.6 8572.8 2000
flow is turbulent, Nu number eqn is
hd
Nud 0.023Red 0.8 Pr 0.4
k
--Dittus & Boelter eqn for turbulent tube flow
0.638
h
(8572.8)0.8 (3.89)0.4 0.023
0.02
h 1770W / m2 K
L ' 8 L 10.64m
for the same entry and exit bulk temperatures
Q hA(T w' T b' )
Q
q " 20000 1770(T w' T b' )
A
T 'w2 11.3 65 76.3 C

Much lower surface temp of the tube.

i.e. turbulent flow has higher h and hence higher convective heat transfer rate.
8