Heat transfer calculation across a flat plate

In summary, for the given problem of heat transfer, the film temperature is 40°C and the rate of heat transfer per unit width of the entire plate is 11100 W/m. These values were calculated using the values of thermal conductivity, Prandtl number, and dynamic viscosity provided. The Reynolds number was also calculated and determined to be in the laminar flow regime.
  • #1
tcaldwell
7
0
Heat Transfer Qts
Engine oil at 60 oC flows over flat plate whose temperature is at 20 oC with a velocity of 2 m s-1. The length of the plate is 5m. What is the film temperature and the rate of heat transfer per unit width of the entire plate?
Additional information (at the film temperature):
Thermal conductivity of oil: Prandtl number:
Dynamic viscosity:
k1 = 0.144 W m-1 K-1
Pr = 2870
u = 0.21 kg m-1 s-1

Help!
Can't get a Reynolds number without density..
Is film temperature 40 degrees Celsius?
 
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  • #2
First, the film temperature is
[tex]T_f = \frac{T_{\infty} + T_S}{2} = 40 °C[/tex]
Now, I'm almost certain this is a problem from Incropera's heat transfer book, so I got the density of the oil at Tf from table A.5 (Incropera). The values of k, Pr and μ also coincide with the values in the table for Tf. Now, calculating the average Reynolds number for a flat plate
[tex]\textrm{Re} = \frac{\rho v L}{\mu} = \frac{\left(876.07 \frac{kg}{m^3} \right) \left(2 \frac{m}{s} \right)(5 \ m)}{0.21 \frac{kg}{m \cdot s}} = 41717.62[/tex]
For a flat plate, Re < 500000 indicates laminar flow. Now we use the following correlation for the average Nusselt number for laminar flow over a flat plate (applies for all Pr ≥ 0.6)
[tex]\textrm{Nu} = 0.664 \ \textrm{Re}^{\frac{1}{2}} \ \textrm{Pr}^{\frac{1}{3}} = 0.664 (41717.62)^{\frac{1}{2}} (2870)^{\frac{1}{3}} = 1927.326[/tex]
Now we can calculate the average heat transfer coefficient using the Nusselt number
[tex]h = \frac{\textrm{Nu} \ k}{L} = 1927.326 \frac{0.144 \frac{W}{m \cdot K}}{5 \ m} = 55.5 \frac{W}{m^2 \cdot K}[/tex]
Finally, we calculate the rate of heat transfer per unit width of plate
[tex]q' = hL(T_{\infty} - T_S) = \left(55.5 \frac{W}{m^2 \cdot K} \right) (5 \ m) (60 °C - 20 °C) = 11100 \frac{W}{m}[/tex]
 

1. What is heat transfer calculation across a flat plate?

Heat transfer calculation across a flat plate is the process of determining the amount of heat that is transferred from one side of a flat plate to the other. This calculation is important in various engineering and scientific applications, such as in designing cooling systems or studying thermal insulation.

2. What factors affect heat transfer across a flat plate?

There are several factors that affect heat transfer across a flat plate, including the temperature difference between the two sides of the plate, the material of the plate, the surface area of the plate, the velocity of the fluid (if there is one), and the type of heat transfer (conduction, convection, or radiation).

3. How is heat transfer across a flat plate calculated?

The most commonly used equation for calculating heat transfer across a flat plate is the heat conduction equation, which takes into account the thermal conductivity of the material, the thickness of the plate, and the temperature difference between the two sides. Other methods, such as the Nusselt number equation for convection, can also be used depending on the specific situation.

4. What are some applications of heat transfer calculation across a flat plate?

Heat transfer across a flat plate is an important concept in many fields, including chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science. Some common applications include designing heat exchangers, analyzing the performance of insulation materials, and predicting the temperature distribution in various systems.

5. How can heat transfer across a flat plate be improved?

There are several ways to improve heat transfer across a flat plate, such as increasing the temperature difference between the two sides, using materials with higher thermal conductivity, increasing the surface area of the plate, and using methods to enhance heat transfer, such as fins or forced convection. However, the most effective method will depend on the specific situation and application.

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