Temperature Distribution in a Convection Heat Transfer Medium
Keywords:
Temperature, Heat Transfer, Convection, Water, Control, DistributionAbstract
This paper focuses on the demonstration of spatial temperature distribution in a convective heat transfer module using a 3-D EDIBON Physics apparatus. Particularly, the work demonstrates the temperature distribution in a module having two focuses (barrels) containing hot and cold water with differing temperatures. The basic equipment in the work were: Aluminum based 3-Robot Arm with scanning area of 300x550mm and depth of 250mm; control interface; control software; temperature sensor; computer set; small barrel Cu walls with boiling rings and thermostatic control (hot focal point); small barrel Cu walls (cold focal point). The hot and cold focuses were kept at a distance of 280mm. The water in the hot focus was kept at a temperature of 32oC using a boiler inserted in the barrel while the water in the cold barrel was infused with ice block that brought the temperature to 7.7oC. The temperatures were measured using a digital temperature sensor and also read from the monitor of the interface computer set. The three coordinates of X, Y and Z were set at different values of 20, 30 and 40mm respectively indicating their relative positions. The differential positions on the Robot Arm were moved and the values of the temperature and volume were displayed on the interface monitor and recorded. The experiment was repeated for an increase in water temperature in the hot focus by 5oC while keeping the water in the cold focus at 6.7oC. The temperatures before and after the sweeping of the Robot Arm were displayed and recorded. The experiment was repeated for successive positioning of the Robot Arm and varying the temperature of the hot focus by 5oC (while keeping the distance between the hot and cold focuses constant at 280mm), and the readings of the temperature and volume read on the interface monitor. The temperature of the cold focus was kept low (between 3oC and 10oC throughout the experimental trials. Results show increase in temperature with successive positioning (increases) of the Robot Arm up to a peak value of 26.80oC and subsequent decrease. The experiment was conducted nine times and the average temperature value obtained and recorded after every test as follows: 24.26oC, 24.77oC, 25.03oC, 25.83oC, 25.66oC, 26.3oC, 26.73oC, 26.54oC and 26.80oC respectively. This work shows that heat is transferred when there is temperature gradient between two media and the quantity of heat transferred is a function of the temperature difference between the two media. It also indicates that temperatures are distributed in accordance with the positioning (distance) of the Robot Arm from the base.
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