Natural Convection Heat Transfer along a Partially Heated Vertical Channel

Abstract

This paper presents a natural convection experimental study investigating the heat transfer and airflow behaviour along a partially-heated vertical channel under various operating conditions. The channel had a height of 1m and a depth of 0.07m, and it was symmetrically heated from one side at the middle of the channel using a 0.1m x 0.1m electrical-powered hot plate. Four different heat input values (5W, 10W, 15W, and 20W) were tested, and temperatures and velocities were measured at different locations. Temperature readings were monitored and recorded to ensure the acquisition of a steady-state condition. Once the steady state heating condition was achieved, data were collected, analyzed, and relationships were established. Dimensionless correlations related to the problem were also derived. It was observed that heat transfer coefficient and mass flow rate were both dependent on the heat input and exhibited a power relationship of 0.33 and 0.3, respectively.