DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (ISM) DHANBAD

Session: 2025-2026 (Winter)

Tutorial 3
INTRODUCTION TO CONVECTION

1. In a particular application involving airflow over a heated surface, the boundary layer
temperature distribution may be approximated as
𝑇 − 𝑇𝑠 𝑢∞𝑦
= 1 − exp (−𝑃𝑟 )
𝑇∞ − 𝑇𝑠 𝜈
where y is the distance normal to the surface and the Prandtl number, Pr = Cpµ/k =0.7, is
a dimensionless fluid property. If T͚ = 400 K, Ts =300 K, and ρu͚ /μ = 5000 m-1, k=0.0263
W/m.K what is the surface heat flux? Ans: 9205 W/m2
2. Experiments to determine the local convection heat transfer coefficient for uniform flow
normal to a heated circular disk have yielded a radial Nusselt number distribution of the
form
ℎ(𝑟)𝐷 𝑟 𝑛
𝑁𝑢𝐷 = = 𝑁𝑢0 [1 + 𝑎 ( ) ]
𝑘 𝑟0
where both n and a are positive. The Nusselt number at the stagnation point is correlated
in terms of the Reynolds (ReD =ρVD/μ ) and Prandtl numbers
ℎ(𝑟 = 0)𝐷 ⁄
𝑁𝑢0 = = 0.814𝑅𝑒𝐷1 2 𝑃𝑟 0.36
𝑘
̅̅̅̅̅̅
Obtain an expression for the average Nusselt number,𝑁𝑢 ̅
𝐷 = ℎ𝐷 ⁄𝑘 , corresponding to

heat transfer from an isothermal disk. Ans: 𝑵𝒖𝑫 = [𝟏 +

1
3. Water at a temperature of T͚ = 250C flows over one of the surfaces of a steel wall (AISI
1010) whose temperature is Ts,1 = 400C. The wall is 0.35 m thick, and its other surface
temperature is Ts,2 =1000C. For steady state conditions what is the convection coefficient
associated with the water flow? What is the temperature gradient in the wall and in the
water that is in contact with the wall? Sketch the temperature distribution in the wall and
in the adjoining water. (Steel Type AISI 1010 (700C = 343K), ks = 61.7 W/m⋅K; Water
(32.50C = 305K), kf = 0.62 W/m⋅K). (Ans: 705 W/m2.K, -171.40C/m, -170560C/m
4. A thin, flat plate that is 0.2m x 0.2m on a side is oriented parallel to an atmospheric
airstream having a velocity of 40 m/s. The air is at a temperature of T͚ = 200C, while the
plate is maintained at Ts =1200C. The airflows over the top and bottom surfaces of the
plate, and measurement of the drag force reveals a value of 0.075 N. What is the rate of
heat transfer from both sides of the plate to the air? Ans : q=240 W.
5. A thin, flat plate that is 0.2m x 0.2m on a side with rough top and bottom surfaces is
placed in a wind tunnel so that its surfaces are parallel to an atmospheric airstream having
a velocity of 30 m/s. The air is at a temperature of T͚ = 200C while the plate is maintained
at Ts= 800C. The plate is rotated 450 about its centre point, as shown in the schematic.
Airflows over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate, and measurement of the heat
transfer rate is 2000 W. What is the drag force on the plate? Ans: 0.785 N

6. For flow of a liquid metal through a circular tube, the velocity and temperature profiles at
a particular axial location may be approximated as being uniform and parabolic,
respectively. That is, 𝑢(𝑟) = 𝐶1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇(𝑟) − 𝑇𝑠 = 𝐶2 [1 − (𝑟⁄𝑟0 )2 ], where C1 and C2 are
constants. What is the value of the Nusselt number NuD at this location? Ans: NuD = 8

2
 PROBLEM ON EXTERNAL FLOW
7. Explain under what conditions the total rate of heat transfer from an isothermal flat plate
of dimensions L by 2L would be the same, independent of whether parallel flow over the
plate is directed along the side of length L or 2L. With a critical Reynolds number of 5 ×
105, for what values of ReL would the total heat transfer be independent of orientation?
Ans: for laminar flow at plate L and mixed flow at plate 2L, Re=3.2 × 105, for mixed
flow at both the plates, Re=1.5 × 106
8. Consider steady, parallel flow of atmospheric air over a flat plate. The air has a
temperature and free stream velocity of 300 K and 25 m/s. Evaluate the boundary layer
thickness at distances of x =1, 10 and 100 mm from the leading edge. If a second plate
were installed parallel to and at a distance of 4 mm from the first plate, what is the
distance from the leading edge at which boundary layer merger would occur? Ans: 141
mm.
9. Air at 27 0C with a free stream velocity of 10 m/s is used to cool electronic devices
mounted on a printed circuit board. Each device, 4 mm x 4 mm, dissipates 40 mW, which
is removed from the top surface. A turbulator is located at the leading edge of the board,
causing the boundary layer to be turbulent.

a. Estimate the surface temperature of the fourth device located 15 mm from the
leading edge of the board. Ans: 640 C
b. What is the minimum free stream velocity if the surface temperature of the hottest
device is not to exceed 80 0C? Ans: 6.6 m/s

3
 PROBLEM ON INTERNAL FLOW
10. Velocity and temperature profiles for laminar flow in a tube of radius ro = 10 mm have
the form
𝑢(𝑟) = 0.1[1 − (𝑟⁄𝑟𝑜 )2 ]
𝑇(𝑟) = 344.8 + 75.0(𝑟⁄𝑟𝑜 )2 − 18.8(𝑟⁄𝑟𝑜 )4
with units of m/s and K, respectively. Determine the corresponding value of the mean (or
bulk) temperature, Tm, at this axial position.
11. Consider a circular tube of diameter D and length L, with a mass flow rate of 𝑚̇.
c. For constant heat flux conditions, derive an expression for the ratio of the
temperature difference between the tube wall at the tube exit and the inlet
temperature, 𝑇𝑠 (𝑥 = 𝐿) − 𝑇𝑚,𝑖 , to the total heat transfer rate to the fluid q. Express
your result in terms of 𝑚̇, L, the local Nusselt number at the tube exit NuD(x = L),
𝑻𝒔 (𝒙=𝑳)−𝑻𝒎,𝒊 𝟏 𝟏
and relevant fluid properties. Ans: = +
𝒒 𝑵𝒖𝑫 𝝅𝑳𝒌 𝒎̇𝒄𝒑

d. Repeat part (a) for constant surface temperature conditions. Express your result in
̅̅̅̅𝐷 , and
terms of , L, the average Nusselt number from the tube inlet to the tube exit 𝑁𝑢
𝑻𝒔 (𝒙=𝑳)−𝑻𝒎,𝒊 𝟏
relevant fluid properties. Ans: = ̅̅̅̅ 𝒌𝑳
𝝅𝑵𝒖
𝒒 𝒎̇𝒄𝒑 [𝟏−𝐞𝐱𝐩(− 𝒎̇𝒄𝑫 )]
𝒑

12. Engine oil flows through a 25-mm-diameter tube at a rate of 0.5 kg/s. The oil enters the
tube at a temperature of 250C, while the tube surface temperature is maintained at 1000C.
Determine the oil outlet temperature for a 5-m and for a 100-m long tube. For each case,
compare the log mean temperature difference to the arithmetic mean temperature
difference. Ans : L = 5 m, ∆𝑻𝒍𝒎 = 𝟕𝟑. 𝟑𝟎 𝑪, ∆𝑻𝒂𝒎 = 𝟕𝟑. 𝟑𝟎 𝑪, L = 100 m, ∆𝑻𝒍𝒎 =
𝟔𝟒. 𝟓𝟑𝟎 𝑪, ∆𝑻𝒂𝒎 = 𝟔𝟓. 𝟏𝟎 𝑪
PROBLEM ON NATURAL CONVECTION
13. Consider laminar flow about a vertical isothermal plate of length L, providing an average
heat transfer coefficient of ℎ̅L. If the plate is divided into N smaller plates, each of length,
LN = L/N, determine an expression for the ratio of the heat transfer coefficient averaged
over the N plates to the heat transfer coefficient averaged over the single plate, ℎ̅L,N / ℎ̅L,1.
𝟏 𝟏 ⁄𝟒
̅ 𝑳,𝑵 ⁄𝒉
Ans: 𝒉 ̅ 𝑳,𝟏 = 𝑵 ( ) = 𝑵 𝟏 ⁄𝟒
𝑵𝟑

4
 14. Consider a vertical plate of dimension 0.25m × 0.50m that is at Ts =1000C in a quiescent
environment at T∞=20°C. In the interest of minimizing heat transfer from the plate, which
orientation, (A) or (B), is preferred? What is the convection heat transfer from the front
surface of the plate when it is in the preferred orientation? Ans: Orientation B is
preferred for minimizing the heat transfer. 45.7W

15. During a winter day, the window of a patio door with a height of 1.8 m and width of 1.0
m shows a frost line near its base. The room wall and air temperatures are 15°C.

(a) Explain why the window would show a frost layer at the base rather than at the top.
(b) Estimate the heat loss through the window due to free convection and radiation. Assume the
window has a uniform temperature of 0°C and the emissivity of the glass surface is 0.94. If
the room has electric baseboard heating, estimate the corresponding daily cost of the window
heat loss for a utility rate of 0.18 $/kWh. Ans: 0.96 $/day