Forced Convection Heat Transfer

Forced Convection Heat Transfer apparatus allows students to examine the theory and associated formulae related to forced convection in pipes. It is a frame holding a motor-driven fan, piping and instrumentation panel. A basic knowledge of forced convection heat transfer theory is valuable in many engineering fields, especially heat-exchanger design. It also has a large work surface for student convenience. The fan runs at a constant speed and draws air through a control valve. A larger manometer on the instrument panel measures the fan pressure drop. The u-shaped pipe connects to a smaller diameter insulated and electrically heated copper test pipe. The air then moves into a u-shaped pipe.An orifice plate in the pipe connects to a manometer on the instrumentation panel to measure the airflow rate. The test pipe discharges to atmosphere. Pressure tappings each end of the test pipe connect to amanometer on the instrument panel to measure test length pressure drop. Students control the power input to the test pipe heater using a variable transformer while noting the power using instrumentation on the panel. Further thermocouples measure temperature at various points within the test pipe insulation. Students use a digital indicator on the instrumentation panel to display thermocouple temperature readings. A thermometer measures the air temperature at the inlet to the test pipe.Thermocouples measure the temperature at various points along the test pipe wall.