Experimental investigation of heat transfer in an air duct with an inclined heating surface

In this paper some experimental results showing the influence of inclination of a cylindrical heating surface immersed in an air duct on heat transfer coefficient are presented. The experiments were performed in a laboratory-scaled apparatus of square cross section with dimensions 120 ‐ 120 mm and 1400 mm in height. Heat transfer surface was an electrical heater made of brass tube with outer diameter of 19 mm and 110 mm length. In each experiment the temperatures of the front and rear side of the heating surface, inclination angle, air velocity, inlet air temperature, and heater power were measured. It was concluded that heat transfer coefficient depends on flow conditions and angle of inclination. The maximum Nusselt number (Nu) was observed to occur about 45° inclination relative to the horizon, for the range of Reynolds numbers used in experiments. The values of heat transfercoefficients in the vertical position were very nearly the same as they were in the horizontal position. Based on the experimental results, a correlation was proposed for estimation of Nu at the desired flow velocity and inclination angle, relative to Nu at zero inclination.