CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT RESEARCH

1.1

PREAMBLE:

The basic heat transfer modes are conduction, convection and radiation.
When a surface is maintained in still fluid at a temperature higher or lower
than that of the fluid, a layer of fluid adjacent to the surface gets heated or
cooled. A density difference is created between this layer and the still fluid
surrounding it. The density difference introduces a buoyant force causing
flow of fluid near the surface. Heat transfer under such conditions is known
as free or natural convection. Thus Free or natural convection is the
process of heat transfer which occurs due to movement of the fluid particles
by density changes associated with temperature differential in a fluid. This
mode of heat transfer occurs very commonly, some examples are given
below:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The cooling of transmission lines, electric transformers and rectifiers.

The heating of rooms by use of radiators.
Air conditioning and refrigeration equipments.
Sugar industries, chemical industries, milk processing plants, process
heating cooling
5. The heat transfer from hot pipes and ovens surrounded by cooler air.
6. Cooling the reactor core (in nuclear power plants) and carry out the
heat generated by nuclear fission and numerous other applications.
In free convection, the flow velocities encountered are lower compared to
flow velocities in forced convection, consequently the value of convection
coefficient is lower, generally by one order of magnitude. Hence, for a given
rate of heat transfer larger area could be required. As there is no need for
additional devices to force the liquid, this mode is used for heat transfer in
simple devices which have to be left unattended for long periods.
Many techniques of heat transfer enhancement have been investigated in
the past in order to improve the heat transfer performance and to thus
reduce the size of heat exchangers. Enhancement methods can be classified
broadly as passive ones, which include special heat transfer surfaces and
induced mixing devices, and active ones, which include surface vibration,
fluid vibration, injection and electrostatic fields. In the past, two-phase heat
transfer enhancement was mostly effected by using passive techniques.
However, the high controllability of active heat transfer techniques is now
recognized as being essential for extremely precise thermal control. This
makes the active method of applying a high voltage electric field,
ElectroHydroDynamic (abbreviated EHD) to heat transfer fluids one of the
most promising methods for enhancing and controlling heat transfer.

___________________________
* The numbers in the square brackets denote the references listed at the end in
Bibliography

1.2

BACKGROUND OT THE PRESENT RESEARCH:

The present work is pertaining to free convective heat transfer. Since the
modern day heat transfer systems call for more efficient and compact
exchangers to save energy and time, attempts are being made to
accomplish the same. Since the passive methods of heat transfer
enhancement have their own limitations, major emphasis is put on active
methods of heat transfer enhancement. ElectroHydroDynamically enhanced
heat transfer enhancement is one such technique. But heat transfer
phenomenon in totality is too complex a phenomenon for analysis. The entire
phenomenon involves heat transfer material properties and the changes in it
over a range of wide temperatures and pressures, the heat transfer medium
and the changes in it over a range of wide temperatures and pressures, the
geometry of the heat transfer surfaces and system and the other related
changes in the dependent properties which will influence the heat transfer
phenomenon and hence the heat transfer rate. Methodology of engineering
experimentation applied to various experimental investigations is reported
[29]. Such methodology can also be applied to experimental investigations
for heat transfer processes. The equations governing the heat transfer
process involving too many parameters both dependent and independent
can be reduced using dimensional analysis [23]. With the help of
experimental data recorded for the chosen and designed experimental set
up, the effect of various parameters on the entire heat transfer phenomenon
can be analyzed. The analysis of the effect of the parameters will give the
dominance of the parameters affecting the heat transfer phenomenon. The
modifications in the dominant parameters if possible can be done by trial
and error employing the literature available about the work so far has been
carried out to get the maximum possible heat transfer rate and hence
maximum heat transfer. In the present research, this approach is followed to
validate the dominance of parameters affecting the heat transfer
phenomenon.
This is done as follows:
(1) An experimental set up is designed and fabricated which will provide
data for experimental investigation and analysis. Applying theories of
engineering experimentation[29], the dimensionless terms of dependent
and independent variables are formed which represent the phenomenon.
Next, the application of proposed new theory and concept of experimental

data based modeling are applied to gather the heat transfer data and other
relevant parameters. This is done as under:
Experimentation is carried out on the experimental set up and subsequently,
the data for change in temperatures of heat transfer surfaces and heat
transfer fluids and current with respect to variation in applied voltage is
recorded and then the change in other related parameters involved is
calculated. Now, using the available experimental data and the technique of
multiple regression analysis, the mathematical models are established.
(2)
The indices of various terms involved in the dimensional equation
governing the heat transfer phenomenon are an indication of the dominance
of particular parameters playing relative roles in the heat transfer
phenomenon.
In addition, sensitivity of independent terms is also checked through
sensitivity analysis since the system is highly dynamic in nature. The
reliability [30] of the mathematical model is computed. Subsequently, the
optimum values of independent terms are obtained through optimization of
this model.
1.3

MAIN OBJECTIVES OT THE PRESENT RESEARCH:

(1) To confirm the influence of electric field on various parameters involved

in heat transfer process and to confirm the effect of all these parameters
combined together on heat transfer rate.
(2) To establish the experimental data based model with the application of
proposed theory of engineering experimentation and dimensional analysis.
(3) Analysis of the experimental data based model with the proposed logic.
1.4

BROAD CONTENTS OF THE THESIS:

The entire research work has been presented through chapter 2 to chapter 8.
The details of each in brief are as follows:
Chapter 2: This chapter details the literature review. In this, literature
shows the methodology which is used recently related to heat transfer
augmentation process. The method of calculation for different heat transfer
parameters is specifically detailed. Some important methodologies of
experimental investigations, procedures, results and conclusions are given in
literature. These are summarily reported in this chapter.
Chapter 3: This chapter deals with formulation of problems associated with
the research work carried out so far by earlier investigators. The

shortcomings and limitations of the earlier experimental investigations as

regards to influence of applications of electric field on enhancement of heat
transfer are detailed.
Chapter
4: The proposed logic is presented through this chapter. It
elaborates how the theories of engineering experimentations help in
proposed experimental investigation. The logic shows the design procedure
to be followed, the test points, test envelope and test sequence to be
followed to investigate the envisaged objective experimentally. The
procedure for formulation of mathematical models is specifically elaborated.
Chapter 5: This chapter details the design and fabrication of the set up for
experimental investigations. The design and specifications of components of
set up, the selection of materials based on the literature review of the
experimental and study work done till date is detailed. It also focuses on the
procedure and details of difficulties encountered during fabrication of the
experimental set up. The practical limitations came across during changing
the heat transfer medium during the course of experimental investigations
are also addressed.
Chapter 6: The detailing of how the experimental investigational work had
been carried out is given in this chapter. It gives details of time taken and
actual difficulties faced in achieving the steady state required for recording
the observational data. The chapter also throws light on the cumbersome
procedures had been gone through while changing the heat transfer medium
and the difficulties involved therein.
Chapter 7: This chapter contains the details of the experimental data
recorded and the transformation of this data in the parametric form required
for dimensional analysis. The heat transfer depends on parameters which
may not directly appear in the equations governing heat transfer. Therefore
conversion of the observed and recorded data into the parametric form of
equation has to be carried out. Once this conversion is done, the application
of engineering experimentation and the methodology of mathematical model
formulation can be applied.
Chapter 8:
Approach of experimental data based model formulation
suggested by Schenck H. Jr[29], in a modified form is adopted for this
purpose. The modification is to the extent of covering only and it is done by
(1) Reducing the number of independent variables by dimensional analysis
(2) Taking the experimental data of heat transfer augmentation process
directly (3) Formulating the model of heat transfer augmentation process
based on the recorded data.
Chapter 9: The Corroboration of experimental data gathered through
literature survey and experimental data based model with proposed logic is

detailed in this chapter. In addition, quantitative analysis of some

mathematical models is presented (these models represent the variation in
experimental outcome with respect to variation in input parameters). The
quantitative analysis includes (1) Reliability of the models, (2) Sensitivity
analysis of the models and (3) Optimization of the models.
Chapter 10: This chapter details some important conclusions drawn from
the present experimental investigation. The practical constraints and
behavior of the phenomenon is also discussed.
Chapter 11: This chapter gives an account of the practical difficulties faced
during the course of design and fabrication of experimental set up and the
problems encountered during experimentation and the limitations therein.
Considering all these, future work is also suggested.