Heat Transfer Through Forced Convection

Jada S. Simpson and Imani Pryce

School of Engineering, University of Technology, Jamaica

CHE3004: Unit Operations 4

Mrs. Brandeice Jamieson

October 21, 2024

Introduction
Forced convection is a mode of heat transfer that occurs when a fluid, typically air or liquid, is
driven across a heated surface by an external force such as a fan or pump. This external force
increases the movement of the fluid, allowing for more efficient heat exchange between the
surface and the fluid. In chemical engineering, understanding heat transfer through forced
convection is critical for designing processes where temperature control is essential, such as
cooling reactors, heat exchangers, and various industrial equipment.

Heat transfer occurs through three primary mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation.
Conduction refers to heat transfer through direct contact between molecules in a solid, while
radiation involves energy transfer through electromagnetic waves. Convection, on the other
hand, occurs in fluids and is dependent on the movement of the fluid itself. Convection is divided
into two categories: natural (or free) convection, where the movement is driven by buoyancy
forces due to temperature differences, and forced convection, where an external force drives the
fluid movement.

In forced convection, the rate of heat transfer is influenced by several factors, including the
velocity of the fluid, the surface area of the heated object, and the temperature difference
between the object and the fluid. One of the key relationships governing forced convection is
Newton’s Law of Cooling, which states that the rate of heat transfer ˙𝑄 is proportional to the
temperature difference ∆𝑇 between the surface and the fluid:

˙𝑄 = ℎ𝐴 (𝑇𝑆 − 𝑇∞)
Where:
˙𝑄 is the rate of heat transfer (W),
ℎ is the convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m²K),
𝐴 is the surface area of the heated object (m²),
𝑇𝑆 is the surface temperature of the heated object (°C),
𝑇∞ is the temperature of the surrounding fluid (°C).

In this experiment, forced convection is the primary focus, with the fan providing the external
force needed to increase airflow over the heated surface. This increased airflow enhances heat
dissipation from the object to the air, leading to faster cooling. The convective heat transfer
coefficient ℎ increases with higher airflow velocity, thereby increasing the overall rate of heat
transfer. By varying the speed of the fan, the impact of airflow velocity on the cooling rate of the
heated object can be observed, quantifying the behavior of heat transfer through forced
convection under different conditions.
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the principles of forced convection by
measuring the cooling rate of a heated iron block exposed to different fan speeds. This will
provide insights into the relationship between fluid velocity (airflow) and the rate of heat transfer
in forced convection and validate the hypothesis that higher airflow results in a faster rate of heat
dissipation from the heated surface.
 Experiment

Problem Statement: As a chemical engineering student studying heat transfer. Design, perform,
and explain an experiment demonstrating heat transfer through forced convection.

Hypothesis: In forced convection, the heat transfer rate from a heated surface will increase with
airflow velocity. Therefore, as the speed of the air flowing over the heated surface increases, the
rate of heat transfer will increase, resulting in faster cooling of the heated object.

Objective: To demonstrate heat transfer through forced convection and measure the heat transfer
rate from a heated object under varying airflow conditions (i.e., forced convection).

Apparatus:

❖ Electric heater or hot plate

❖ Small Iron block (or another easily heatable object)
❖ 2 Thermocouples (Thermometer
❖ Fan (with adjustable speed control)
❖ Digital thermometer
❖ Insulating material
❖ Stopwatch
❖ Measuring tape

Variables:

1. Controlling Variable: Fan Speed

2. Manipulated Variable: Temperature of the Heated Block
3. Responding Variable: Rate of Heat Transfer

Procedure:
1. An iron sheet was placed on top of the heating element, ensuring direct contact with the
surface of the heater to allow for uniform heat transfer.
2. Two thermometers were used in place of thermocouples: one thermometer was positioned
on the surface of the iron sheet to measure its temperature, while the second thermometer
was used to measure the ambient air temperature near the sheet.
3. The fan was positioned 5 cm away from the iron sheet, with the airflow directed over the
surface of the sheet. A measuring tape was used to ensure the correct distance.
4. Insulating material was placed around the base of the heating element to minimize heat
loss to the surroundings.
 5. The heating element was turned on, and the iron sheet was heated until it reached a
steady temperature of approximately 80°C, as measured by the thermometer.
6. Once the iron sheet reached the desired temperature, the fan was turned on at its lowest
speed to initiate forced convection.
7. Initial temperatures of the iron sheet and the surrounding air were recorded using a
stopwatch to monitor the time.
8. The fan speed was gradually increased to higher settings, and the temperatures were
recorded at regular intervals of every 10 seconds. The data was manually tabulated.
9. Temperature readings were taken continuously until the temperature of the iron sheet had
decreased significantly, by approximately 29°C.
10. The experiment was repeated with different fan speeds, and the changes in the cooling
rate for each condition were noted and recorded.

Data Collection & Analysis:

In forced convection, heat transfer was enhanced by the movement of fluid (in this case, air) over
a surface. The convective heat transfer coefficient increased with airspeed, leading to greater heat
dissipation. By controlling the fan speed, the rate at which heat was transferred from the heated
object to the surrounding air was manipulated. This experiment demonstrated the direct
relationship between airflow and the heat transfer rate. As the fan speed increased, the rate of
heat transfer from the iron sheet also increased. This occurred because higher airflow enhanced
forced convection, allowing heat to be carried away more efficiently. Therefore, the iron sheet
cooled faster at higher fan speeds compared to lower fan speeds.

Results:

Table 1: Temperature of the Iron Block Over Time at Fan Speed 1 (Low)
Table 2: Temperature of the Iron Block Over Time at Fan Speed 2 (medium)

Table 3: Temperature of the Iron Block Over Time at Fan Speed 1 (high)
Readings
Initial temperature of the iron block (before airflow starts).
Block temperature at regular intervals (every 10 seconds).
Fan speed (can be noted as low, medium, and high).
Ambient air temperature (near the block).
Time taken for the block to cool by 29°C (or a set temperature difference).

Data Collection & Analysis:

Using Newton’s Law of Cooling for Convective Heat transfer
𝑄 = ℎ · 𝐴 · 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞
Where,
𝑄: heat transfer rate in watts (W)
2
ℎ : convective heat transfer coefficient (𝑊/𝑚 𝐾)
𝐴: surface area of the iron block in m^2
𝑇𝑠 : initial surface temperature of the block in °C
𝑇∞: ambient temperature in °C

Since the exact value of 𝑄 is not given, estimating it using the change in temperature over the
total time period.

Rearrange to solve for ℎ .

Assuming a steady rate of heat loss over the 120 seconds, approximate 𝑄 as the total heat loss
over the time interval, making ℎ the subject:
∆𝑇
ℎ = 𝐴 · ∆𝑡
where ,
∆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ : difference between the initial block temperature and ambient temperature
∆𝑡: total cooling time interval (120 seconds)
𝐴 : surface area in m^2

Substitute values for each fan speed

2 −4 2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 3. 5 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 1. 5 𝑐𝑚 = 5. 25 𝑐𝑚 = 5. 25 𝑥 10 𝑚

Plug in values for each fan speed:

At low fan speed,

𝑇𝑠 = 72 °𝐶, 𝑇∞ = 29°𝐶
∆𝑇 = 72 − 29 = 43°𝐶
∆𝑡 = 120 𝑠

Calculating ℎ for low fan speed:

43°𝐶 2
ℎ = −4 2 = 682. 54 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾
5.25 𝑥 10 𝑚 𝑥 120𝑠

Repeating calculations for medium and high fan speeds:

Medium fan speed:

𝑇𝑠 = 74 °𝐶, 𝑇∞ = 29°𝐶
45°𝐶 2
ℎ = −4 2 = 714. 29 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾
5.25 𝑥 10 𝑚 𝑥 120𝑠

High fan speed:

𝑇𝑠 = 71 °𝐶, 𝑇∞ = 29°𝐶 ∆𝑡 = 100 𝑠
42°𝐶 2
ℎ = −4 2 = 800. 00 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾
5.25 𝑥 10 𝑚 𝑥 100𝑠

Also, calculating average cooling rate

∆𝑇
𝐶𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = ∆𝑡
Where, ∆𝑇 = 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 − 𝑇𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙
∆𝑡 = 120 seconds for fan speed low and medium and ∆𝑡 = 100 for fan speed high

Low fan speed:

∆𝑇 = 72°𝐶 − 29°𝐶 = 43°𝐶
43 °𝐶
Cooling rate = 120 𝑠
= 0. 358 °𝐶/𝑠

Medium fan speed:

∆𝑇 = 74°𝐶 − 29°𝐶 = 45°𝐶
45 °𝐶
Cooling rate = 120 𝑠
= 0. 375 °𝐶/𝑠

High fan speed:

∆𝑇 = 71°𝐶 − 29°𝐶 = 42°𝐶
42 °𝐶
Cooling rate = 100 𝑠
= 0. 420 °𝐶/𝑠

Rate of Heat Loss, 𝑄

The rate of heat loss 𝑄​for each fan speed can be calculated using the formula:
𝑄 = ℎ · 𝐴 · ∆𝑇

Where,
ℎ: 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑓𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 ( 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑙𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑)
−4 2
𝐴 = 5. 25 𝑥 10 𝑚
∆𝑇: temperature difference for each fan speed

Low fan speed:

2
ℎ = 682. 54 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾, ∆𝑇 = 43°𝐶
2 −4 2
𝑄 = 682. 54 𝑊/𝑚 𝑥 5. 25 𝑥10 𝑚 𝑥 43°𝐶 = 15. 41 𝑊

Medium fan speed:

2
ℎ = 714. 29 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾, ∆𝑇 = 45°𝐶
2 −4 2
𝑄 = 714. 29 𝑊/𝑚 𝑥 5. 25 𝑥10 𝑚 𝑥 45 °𝐶 = 16. 87 𝑊

High fan speed:

2
ℎ = 800. 00 𝑊/𝑚 · 𝐾, ∆𝑇 = 42°𝐶
2 −4 2
𝑄 = 800. 00 𝑊/𝑚 𝑥 5. 25 𝑥10 𝑚 𝑥 45°𝐶 = 18. 90 𝑊
Discussion:
The experiment aimed to explore how forced convection affects the rate of heat transfer from a
heated iron block under varying fan speeds. By analysing changes in the cooling rate, convective
heat transfer coefficient ℎ , and heat dissipation, the relationship between airflow velocity and
heat transfer efficiency was demonstrated. The results confirm the hypothesis that increasing fan
speed enhances the cooling rate, underscoring the effectiveness of forced convection in
facilitating heat dissipation.

Forced convection is driven by the forced movement of air across a surface, in this case, the iron
block. According to Newton’s Law of Cooling, the heat transfer rate 𝑄 is proportional to the
convective heat transfer coefficient ℎ, the surface area 𝐴, and the temperature difference
𝑇𝑠 − 𝑇∞ between the surface and surrounding fluid. The convective heat transfer coefficient ℎ
depends on factors such as the fluid’s velocity over the surface, which directly relates to fan
speed in this experiment.

As fan speed increased, so did the values of both ℎ and 𝑄. For low fan speed, ℎ was 682.54
W/m²K, increasing to 714.29 W/m²K for medium speed and 800.00 W/m²K for high speed. This
trend is consistent with the theoretical relationship, where higher airflow rates enhance the
convective heat transfer coefficient due to increased energy transfer from the surface to the
moving air.

Similarly, the average cooling rate (°C/s) increased with fan speed. At low speed, the block
cooled at 0.358 °C/s, while at medium speed it cooled at 0.375 °C/s, and at high speed, it reached
0.420 °C/s. This increase in cooling rate indicates that as fan speed increases, the block loses
heat more rapidly. Moreover, the rate of heat loss 𝑄 followed the same pattern: at low fan speed,
the heat loss rate was 15.41 W, which rose to 16.87 W at medium speed and 18.90 W at high
speed. This increase aligns with the expectations from forced convection theory, further
validating the hypothesis that increased fan speeds lead to more efficient heat transfer.

Although the results are consistent with theoretical predictions, several factors may have
introduced errors that could impact accuracy. One notable source of error is timing in
temperature recording. Due to slight delays in noting temperatures at each 10-second interval,
there may be minor inconsistencies in the calculated cooling rates, particularly at the start of each
test. Using an automated data logger to capture temperatures at precise intervals could mitigate
this issue and improve accuracy in future experiments.
Another potential source of error is airflow distribution. As fan speed increased, turbulence and
uneven airflow may have caused inconsistent cooling across different parts of the iron block.
This variability could influence the calculation of ℎ by creating regions with different heat
transfer rates, thus impacting the overall accuracy of the data. Employing a controlled airflow
chamber or duct to direct uniform air over the surface could reduce this effect, ensuring that all
parts of the block experience consistent airflow.

Additionally, environmental heat loss may have occurred despite using insulation around the
heating element. Some heat could have dissipated to the surroundings, especially during the
higher-speed tests where air currents were stronger. This loss may have slightly affected the
temperature readings, making the heat transfer rate appear lower than it might have been in a
fully insulated setup. A more tightly controlled experimental setup with improved insulation
would help contain the heat within the system, providing more precise measurements.

To address these limitations and enhance accuracy, several improvements can be made. First,
utilising automated thermocouples connected to a data logger would ensure consistent
temperature readings, reducing human error and allowing for more accurate data collection.
Additionally, incorporating more fan speed settings could provide a broader range of data points,
helping to better understand how airflow velocity affects the convective heat transfer coefficient.
This would also reveal whether there is a peak fan speed that maximises heat transfer before
diminishing returns or turbulence effects come into play.

A temperature-controlled environment would further refine results by isolating the heat transfer
process from external temperature fluctuations. This setup would minimise environmental
influences, allowing for a more precise assessment of how airflow impacts cooling rates. Finally,
using a ducted fan or enclosed chamber to direct uniform airflow over the surface would
eliminate turbulence and ensure consistent cooling across the iron block, providing clearer
insights into the relationship between fan speed and ℎ.

Understanding forced convection is essential in various engineering applications where

managing heat transfer is critical. For example, cooling systems in electronic devices rely
heavily on forced convection. Fans in laptops, computers, and other electronics drive airflow
over heat-generating components to dissipate heat and prevent overheating. This experiment’s
findings highlight the importance of optimising fan speeds to enhance cooling efficiency,
balancing airflow to achieve effective heat dissipation without generating excess turbulence or
noise.

In industrial heat exchanger, forced convection principles are applied to control temperatures in
processes such as chemical reactions, power generation, and HVAC systems. By carefully
managing fan speed and airflow, heat exchangers can efficiently transfer heat between fluids,
impacting energy efficiency and operational safety. Similarly, automotive radiators depend on
forced convection to maintain engine temperatures. As air flows through the radiator fins, heat
from the coolant is dissipated, preventing engine overheating. This report demonstrates the value
of fine-tuning airflow for effective cooling, an insight that translates directly to such applications.
In conclusion, this experiment successfully demonstrated the impact of forced convection on the
rate of heat transfer, with results supporting the hypothesis that increased fan speeds enhance the
cooling rate. The findings align with theoretical heat transfer principles, particularly Newton’s
Law of Cooling, reinforcing the idea that forced airflow aids in efficient heat dissipation.
Although minor errors may have influenced the data, suggested improvements can further refine
future experiments. These insights contribute valuable knowledge to fields reliant on controlled
cooling processes, underscoring the relevance of optimising forced convection in engineering
and industrial applications.

Safety Precautions:
1. Safety gloves were worn when handling the heated iron sheet.
2. Goggles were used to protect eyes from any potential debris blown by the fan.
3. The fan was secured and positioned at a safe distance from the heater to avoid
overheating or damage.
4. The heating element was turned off when not in use, and the power supply was handled
carefully.
5. The iron block was not touched with bare hands until it had cooled down sufficiently.

Precautions:

1. The block was allowed to reach a steady temperature (e.g., 80°C) before the fan was
turned on to ensure consistent starting conditions for each trial.
2. Insulating materials were placed around the heating element to prevent heat dissipation to
the surroundings, which could have affected the accuracy of the results.
3. Two trials were conducted to improve the accuracy of the timing measurements.

Sources of Error:
1. When transferring the iron block from the hot plate (or heater) to the insulating brick,
there will be a delay in starting the fan and recording the results. During this time, the
block may lose some heat to the surroundings, which can affect the accuracy of the initial
temperature measurement.

2. Variations in the airflow generated by the fan, such as changes in air distribution or
turbulence, could cause uneven cooling of the iron block. If the airflow is not uniform
across the surface of the block, some areas may cool faster than others, affecting the
overall temperature readings and making it difficult to precisely measure the relationship
between fan speed and heat transfer rate.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the experiment successfully demonstrated heat transfer through forced convection,
showing that increased fan speeds elevated both the cooling rate and the heat transfer rate from
the heated iron block, thereby validating the objective of quantifying the impact of airflow on
heat dissipation.

References
 Bahrami, M. (n.d.). Forced convection. Simon Fraser University. Retrieved from
https://www.sfu.ca/~mbahrami/ENSC%20388/Notes/Forced%20Convection.pdf

Basic heat transfer calculations: Conduction, convection and radiation · CFD Flow
Engineering. (n.d.).
https://cfdflowengineering.com/basic-heat-transfer-calculations-conduction-convection-and-radia
tion/

Cengel, Y. A., & Ghajar, A. J. (2015). Heat and mass transfer: Fundamentals and
applications (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.