REAT TRANSFER - LAB LESSON NO.

HEAT TRANSFERIN FALLING FILMS

Before die start of die lab lesson you should be able to explain / answer
die following points or questions regarding heat transfer in falling films:

1. What simplified assumptionshave been made (in the theory for falling
films on a vertical plate) with regard to the temperature?

2. What is here meant with r?

3. Defme Reynoldsnumber for falling films. When (at what Re-number)does

the changebetweenlaminar and turbulent flow take place?

4. Defme the Nusselt number. Express also Graetz number in other

non-dimensionalnumbers.

5. What thermal property affects the heat transfer most with varying
temperature?

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 REA T TRANSFER LAB LESSON NO.5

HEAT TRANSFER IN FALLING FILMS

INTRODUCTION:

Heat transfer in falling films takes place between a thin liquid film and a
surface that emits or absorbs heat: The liquid flows or falls over this
surfacebecauseof gravity.

With falling films one can obtain comparatively very high coefficient of heat
transfer and this method is often used at cooling and heating processesin
such industries as breweries, dairy factories, chemical industries, etc. These
traditional applications nonnally operates with low Reynolds number and
laminar flow.

Falling films have lately found a new area of application as evaporatorsin

large heat pumps using water as heat source.A high massflow rate is normally
used giving turbulent flow that in falling films usually is obtained when
Reynolds number is > 1600, while Re < 1600 usually gives laminar flow.

OBJECT:

The purpose of the lab lesson is to determine the coefficient of heat transfer
and Reynolds number as well as the Nusselt number as a function of the mass
flow rate at a vertical falling film and turbulent flow. Water is flowing on
the outside of a vertical tube that is heatedby a water circuit in the tube.

The coefficient of heat transfer shall be determinedfor a number of measuring

points where the mass flow rate of the falling film varies. The results of the
experimentare then comparedwith an empiric equationby McAdams for falling
films with turbulent flow.

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THEORY:

"Heat transfer in falling fIlms" is summarizedin the 1996 edition of "Heat

Transfer - Collection of formulas and Tables of Thermal Properties" by Eric
Granryd.

Simplifying assumptionsmade in the theory of falling films:

The flow velocity of the falling fIlm along the vertical tube wall is
assumedto be constant. This would mean that no accelerationtakes place as
there is balance between liquid friction and the weight of the liquid. Any
effect of the curving of the liquid fllm on the tube wall is disregarded.

The heat transfer in the direction of the liquid flow is small in comparison

can thereby be regardedas constant.

- The curves of temperature.

The whole tube wall surface is t
assumed to have the same
temperature, tv, while the
temperature of the falling
medium at the inlet is to and
its mean temperature at the
outlet is tmH. In the picture
the falling medium is heated
by the tube wall, but it can
be either heated or cooled.
1mH

~ 1: Temperatureprofile where falling

f11mis heated by the tube wall

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For falling films on vertical walls and with the above given temperature
conditions we can arrive at an equation for the coefficient of heat transfer
related to the logaritrnic mean temperaturedifference, hln, for a wall with
the height, H. The heat flux divided by the breadth of the wall, q', can with
symbols according to the Table of symbols (p.9) be expressedas:

q' = r.Cp.(~o-~H) = hb1.H.(~o-~H)/(ln(~o/~H)

This equation can be changedto the following form:

hJn.HJk = r'(cp/k).ln(~o/~)

When the non-dimensionalNusseltand Graetz numbers(see p.9) are introduced

the equation can be written in the following non-dimensionalform:

Nuln = Gz.ln(~o/~)

Experimental correlations for heat transfer at turbulent flow.

Heat transfer in falling films with turbulent flow has experimentally been
examinedamongothersby McAdams,Drew and Bays. At theseexperimentswater
was heated by flowing inside vertical tubes while water steam of 1 bar was
condensingon me outside of me tubes. Wim support from experimental data
McAdams statesgenerally that the following non-dimensionalequation can be
used to determine the coefficient of heat transfer at turbulent flow and a
vertical falling fIlm:

=
hln/(k3.p2.g/~11/3 O.Ol.(~.cP/k)I/3.(4.r/~)I/3 (4)

By introducing non-dimensional numbers the equation can be written as:

NUIn = O.O159'(g'H
3Iv)2 1/3.(r'cp/k)1/3 = O.Ol59.(G.Gz)
1/3 (5)

All the property constantsin this equation shall be related to the so called
film temperature, tf = (tv+tb)/2.

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EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS:

The experimentalapparatusis built as a simple heat exchanger.An inner water

circuit heatsup a verticalbrasstube (H = 1.00 m; dy = 0.065rn). Cold water
from a water pipe is flowing outside the tube. At the bottom of the tube the
water runs to the bottom container and is then led out through the drain. (See
Figure 2).

1. Flow meter for falling water r11m

2. Control and cut-off valve

3. Falling film distributor

4. Brass tube for falling film
5. Circulation pump, inner circuit
6. Electric water heater, - " -
7. Electric kWh-meter, - " -
8. Temperaturerecorder (thermo
couplesare marked as arrows)

Figure 2: Outline diagram of experi-

mental apparatus

The inner heat emitting water circuit is heated up by an electric heater.

Water is pumped through the circuit with high speed with the aid of a
circulation pump. The high water velocity contributes to an almost constant
tube wall temperatureas the temperaturedifference between the incoming and
outgoing water outside the tube wall is small. This gives a rather good agree-
ment with the theory where constanttube wall temperatureis assumed.

Falling film distributor

The.water that is to flow outsidethe tube is taken fro~ a water pipe and
enters at the lower edge of the upper receptacle(See Figure 3). In the
receptaclethe water level raisesuntil it reachesthe upperend of the middle
tube.The waterthen flows into this tube and passestwo centeringplateswith
manyholes.Theseplateseventhe falling film flow and preventwhirls.

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In the bottom of the receptaclethere are a number of plates by which the
width of the gap can be regulated in a number of steps.When the water has
passedthese plates it falls as an even film down the outside of the vertical
brass tube over which the heat transfer takes place.

1. Glass gauge showing apparent

pressurelevel

2. Glass g~uge showing actual

pressurelevel
3. Inlet, falling water film

4. Middle tube

5. Thermo couple for measuring

tube wall temperature

6. Thermo couple pocket

7. Blind pipe
8. Brass tube for falling film

9. Platesfor plate regulating

=> Path of falling water

> Path of inner medium

Figure 3: Falling film distributor

Measuring devices

Thermo couple threads of copper - konstantan connected to a temperature

registratorareusedfor temperaturemeasurements. Somethreadsare soldered
to the measuringobjectsand someare insertedinto thermocouplepockets.

A volumeflow meteris usedto measuretheincomingcold water volume flow.

Incoming electric power to the pump and heater for the inner circuit is
measuredwith a normal kWh-meter. (Measurethe time for severalrevolutions.)
This measurementis made as a control of the energy balance.
TEST PROCEDURE:

Start of lab lesson

A control should first be made that there is water in the inner circuit. This
is done by observing the glass gauge at the top of the expansionvessel.Water
has to be added if no water level is visible.

To start the water flow on the outside of the brass tube you fIrst have to
fully open the water tap at the wall (green pipe) and thereafter fully open
the red tap situated after the volume flow meter. This red tap is also used to
regulate the water flow for the five measuringpoints.

Your laboratory assistantwill show you the switch used to start the pump and
electric heater for the inner circuit.

Measuring and guiding values

Wait for steadyconditions, reasonablethermal balance,which can be observed

on the registrator, for each of the measuring points. Measurementsare then
made of temperatures, volume (mass) flow and electric power. The five
measuringpoints should be made at decreasingand evenly spreadwater flows
betweenmax flow (appr 0.5 1/s) and =:: 0.1 1/s (kg/s). (The left small red
indicator at the flow meter makesone revolution/liter. Measurethe time for a
suitable number of revolutions.) Enter the measuredvalues in Table 1.

The valueslisted under Calculatedvalues in Table 1 are easily calculated

with the help of the Table of symbols(p.9) andAppendix(p.14)with property
constantsfor water.Thesepropertyconstantsshouldbe takenat the so called
film-temperature, tf = (tv + tb)/2.

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The massflow rate divided by the breadth of the plate, r, is calculatedfrom
r = fn/(n.dy) where m is massflow of the falling water film.

The transferredheat flow is calculatedfrom q = ffi'cp.J1.t, where J1.t = tmH - to.

The coefficient of heat transfer hln, related to the logaritmic mean

temperaturedifference is calculatedfrom the equation:

q = hIn.Ar'(~~H)/ln(&/~) (6)

where At = n.dy.H (m2) is the outside area of the brass tube. Corresponding
Nusselt number is calculated from NUIn= hln.H/k. Reynoldsnumberis here
easiestcalculatedfron Re = 4.r/J!.

The heat losses can be estimatedfrom qr = qel - q. All the calculated values
are enteredinto Table 1.

Mark in DIAGRAM 1 measured temperatures (tin, tout, tvo, tvH, to, tmH) at the
top or bottom of the brass tube. Connect appropriately with (straight) lines.

Mark in DIAGRAM 2 calculated hbl-values as a function of r1f3. Draw also lines

for ~~ (McAdams equation) in the same diagram for tf = 10, 20 and 30 °C.
First you can trim ~~ to the form hbl = O.01.( )I/3.rl/3 outlined in
~ 1: and then calculate hbl for the given r1/3-values.

Mark in DIAGRAM 3 calculatedNuln-valuesas a function of Reynoldsnumber.

Draw also lines for ~~ in the same diagram for tf = 10 and 30 °C. These
lines can also be obtainedby trimming ~~, but now to calculate NUIn=
1/3 1/3 .
0.01.( ) .Re and then calculate Nuln for the given Re-values.

How do the markedvaluesfrom the measuringpointsin Diagrams2 and 3 compare

with the lines based on McAdams equation?- Can we give any explanation
for possible deviations from theselines?

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TABLE OF SYMBOLS:

A (m1 cross section area of water fIlm

At (m1 outside area of brass tube (= n.dy.H)
de (m) hydraulic diameter of water fIlm
dy (m) outer diameter of brass tube wall
H (m) height of brass tube wall
g (m/s1 acceleration
due to gravity (:==9.81)
qel (W) electric power to inner circuit
m ~:W/m) massflow of falling medium
r (kg/m,s) massflow rate divided by breadth of plate wall (= in/n.dy)
q (W) heat flow
q' (W1m) heat flow per length of plate wall
qr (W) heat losses(= qel - q)
to (oC) temperatureof flowing medium at inlet
tmH (oC) temperatureof flowing medium at outlet
tvO (oC) temperatureof tube ~all at inlet
tvH (°C) temperatureof tube ~all at outlet
tin (oC) temperatureof inner circuit at illiet
toot (oC) temperatureof inner circuit at Q!!!let
tb (oC) mean temperature of flowing medium (= (to+tmH)/2)
tv (°C) meantemperature
of tube~all (= (tvo+tVH)/2)
tr (°C) [1lm temperature(= (tv+tb)/2)
L\t (K) temperaturedifference of flowing medium (= tmH-to)
~O (K) temperaturedifference at inlet of tube (= tvO-to)
~ (K) temperaturedifference at outlet of tube (= tvH-tmH)
cp (J/kg,K) specific heat (at tr)
k (WIm,K) thermal conductivity (at tr)
J.l (Ns/m1 dynamic viscosity (at tr)
V (m2/s) kinematic viscosity (at tr)
p (kg/m3) density (at tr)
hJn (W/m2,K) coefficient of heat transfer (see defmition at equation 6)
Nuln (-) correspondingNusselt number (= hJn.HJk)
G ( -) gravity number(= g.H3/V1
Gz (-) Graetznumber(= r.Cp/k)
Pr (-) Prandtlnumber(= J.l'Cp/k)
Re ( - ) Reynoldsnumber (= wm.de/v = ffi.de/(A.J.l) = 4.r/J.l)

<)
TABLE 1: MEASURED AND CALCULATED VALUES

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TABLE 2: CALCULATIONS FOR McADAMS EQUATION

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 DIAGRAM 1 and DIAGRAM ~

~
1:...
t+..-
o
C
0
-
.-

0
c
c2
=
t/j
=
~
.c
NI

I"

Q)

s
e .8
Co,a s
0
+J
~ t +J
<U >
0 0
.J:I
8. e
5 ~
E-o <U
.:.:, ;a

u 0 0
I °u
("'I N -
(:>

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DIAGRAM .;1: Nusseltsnumber as a function of Reynoldsnumber (NUIn f(Re)

0
0
0
0
..-

0
0
0
Ln

0
0
0
(f')

0
0
11'1

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 APPENDIX: PROPERTY CONSTANTS FOR WATER

p density (kg/m3)
Cp specificheat (J/kg,K)
k thermalconductivity (W/m,K)
J.1 dynamicviscosity (Ns/m1

1000 4225

995 4200 0.60 1,0-10-3

-)
990 4175 0.55 0.5.10

0 20 40 500C

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