Experiment 8

Objective:

To investigate the effect of varying heat input and air velocity on the forced convection over a pinned
heat sink.

Apparatus:

For this convection experiments, you will be using the SOLTEQ Free and Forced Convection Heat
Exchanger (Model: HE106).

The unit assembly is shown as follow:

The unit comes with the followings:

(i) Air Duct

Epoxy coated air duct with transparent window.
Dimension (m): 1.02 (H) x 0.122 (W) x 0.07 (D)

(ii) Fan
DC Motor, 6V
4 blades impeller
Velocity: 0 to 1.5 m/sec

(iii) Heat Transfer Surfaces

Vertical Flat Plate
An array of cylindrical pins
Finned surface
Procedure:

1. The start-up procedure for the convection heat apparatus was followed through.
2. The distance of three access holes on the pinned heat sink from the back plate was
measured.
3. The fan assembly was placed on top of the duct.
4. The pinned heat sink was placed into the duct. The temperature probes (T1, T2 and T3)
were inserted into the duct through the three holes on the pinned heat sink. The tip of the
probe was ensured to be in good contact with the fin.

Part A

5. The heater power control was set to 20 Watts (clockwise). Sufficient time to achieve
steady state conditions (approximately 15 minutes) was allowed. All temperatures were
recorded on Table 8(a).
6. The fan speed control was set to give a reading of 1.0 m/s on the thermal anemometer.
Sufficient time to achieve steady state (approximately 10 minutes) was allowed. The
temperatures were recorded on Table 8(a).
7. Step 6 was repeated for different air velocity of 2.0 m/s and 3.0 m/s.

Part B

8. The heater was switched on. The fan speed control was set to give a reading of 3.0 m/s on
the thermal anemometer.
9. The heater power control was set to 40 Watts (clockwise). Sufficient time to achieve
steady state conditions (approximately 10 minutes) was allowed. All temperatures were
recorded on Table 8(b).
10. Step 10 was repeated for different heat input of 60 Watts.
11. The heater was switched off and the power control knob was turned fully anti-clockwise.
The fan speed control knob was set to maximum to cool down the hot plate heat
exchanger.

Results and Discussions:

(Please refer to next page)

TABLE 8
Specimen’s Unfinned Surface Area = 0.011 m2
Specimen’s Finned Surface Area = 0.0469 m2
Specimen’s Total Surface Area = 0.0579 m2

Table 8(a): Heater Power Q = 20 Watts

Plate Plate Plate Plate Ambient Temperature

Air Velocity (m/s) temperature, temperature, temperature, temperature, Temperature, Difference, h (W/m2K)
TH (°C) T1 (°C) T2 (°C) T3 (°C) TA (°C) TH - TA (°C)
0 41.7 38.3 37.6 36.9 24.8 16.9 20.44

1.0 38.6 32.5 31.8 31.1 24.8 13.8 25.03

2.0 35.8 30.1 29.4 28.9 24.7 11.1 31.12

3.0 34.7 29.1 28.5 28.1 24.6 10.1 32.20

Distance from back
0 0.0805 0.3376 0.6
plate, x (m)

Table 8(b): Air velocity V = 3.0 m/s

Plate Plate Plate Plate Ambient Temperature h (W/m2K)

Heater Power, Q
temperature, temperature, temperature, temperature, Temperature, Difference,
(Watts) TH (°C) T1 (°C) T2 (°C) T3 (°C) TA (°C) TH - TA (°C)
Obtained from Table
20 34.7 29.1 28.5 28.1 24.6 10.1 34.20
8(a)
40 40.0 32.4 31.2 30.4 25.0 15.0 46.056

60 46.1 35.8 34.1 32.9 27.9 18.2 56.94

Distance from back
0 0.0805 0.3376 0.6
plate, x (m)
1. Graph of air velocity versus temperature difference.

The plots from experiment 7 and 8 are different from Experiment 3 plot. Plot in
Experiment 3 shows temperature difference increase with the air velocity increase.
However the plots from Experiment 7 and 8 show vice versa.
2. Surface temperature, Th against distance from back plate for the pinned heat sink:

3. Heat convection transfer coefficient, h calculation:

PART B

1. Graph of heat input, Q against temperature difference (Th-Ta).

The temperature difference increase with the heat input increase. However, the finned surface area
result from experiment 7 increase slightl faster than in experiment 8.
Heat transfer coffiecient:
H against temperature difference (Th-Ta):

Both plot from Experiment 8 and Experiment 7 show that the heat transfer coefficient increase when
the temperature difference increase.
Conclusion:

The effect of varying heat input and air velocity on the forced convection over pinned heat sink was
investigated.

It showed that the increase in air velocity cause increase in temperature difference. And the more the
heat supply, the more the temperature difference.