Reconsider Prob. 8-70. Using the EES (or other) software, evaluate the effect of glycerin mass flow rate on the free-stream velocity of the hydrogen gas needed to keep the outlet mean temperature of the glycerin at \(40^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). By varying the mass flow rate of glycerin from \(0.5\) to \(2.4 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{s}\), plot the free stream velocity of the hydrogen gas as a function of the mass flow rate of the glycerin.

Understanding the mass flow rate is crucial when dealing with fluid systems, including gases and liquids. Mass flow rate, often denoted by \( \dot{m} \) in equations, is a measure of the mass of a substance passing through a given surface per unit time. Its SI unit is kilograms per second (kg/s). In heat transfer problems, particularly those involving convection such as the cooling of glycerin by hydrogen gas in our exercise, the mass flow rate directly affects the rate at which heat is transferred.

For a cooling system, higher mass flow rates of the cooling agent often mean more effective heat removal because more mass carries away more energy per unit time. In the given exercise, the mass flow rate of glycerin was varied from 0.5 to 2.4 kg/s, which would alter the amount of heat that needs to be transferred to maintain the glycerin at a constant temperature. The relationship between the mass flow rate and the required free-stream velocity of hydrogen can be visually represented in a plot, as higher mass flow rates typically require higher velocities to achieve the same cooling effect.

It's also essential for students to recognize that mass flow rate is not to be confused with volumetric flow rate. Although both are related, volumetric flow rate involves the volume of fluid passing through a surface per unit time and is dependent on the fluid density, which can change with temperature and pressure.

The specific heat capacity, symbolized as \( C_p \) in thermal physics, is a property of a material that indicates the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). In SI units, it is expressed as joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C or J/kgK).

In the context of the exercise, glycerin's specific heat capacity is an integral part of calculating the heat transfer required to maintain its temperature. It is given a constant value of approximately 2.43 kJ/kgK, which suggests that to increase the temperature of one kilogram of glycerin by one degree Celsius, 2.43 kilojoules of energy are needed.

Why Is Specific Heat Capacity Important?

When we calculate the heat transfer using the relationship \( Q = \dot{m} \times C_p \times (T_{out} - T_{in}) \), the specific heat capacity becomes a multiplier that interacts with the change in temperature and the mass flow rate. This term is critical for designing and analyzing thermal systems to ensure they operate within required temperature ranges. For example, substances with a high specific heat capacity can absorb more heat before increasing in temperature, which makes them excellent for thermal regulation purposes.

Free-stream velocity, particularly in the context of a gas like hydrogen, refers to the speed of the gas as it moves past an object or a substance. In our exercise, hydrogen gas passes over glycerin to cool it down, and the free-stream velocity is the velocity of the hydrogen gas away from boundary layers or any other influences of the glycerin's surface. The free-stream velocity influences the rate of convective heat transfer from glycerin to the hydrogen gas.

For convection, the heat transfer coefficient, denoted as \( h \) in the convective heat transfer equation \( Q = hA(T_g - T_s) \), relies significantly on the flow characteristics of the gas, including its velocity. A higher free-stream velocity generally increases the convective heat transfer coefficient and leads to a more effective transfer of heat.

The Role of Velocity in Heat Transfer

As velocity increases, it can enhance the mixing of the fluid and reduce the thickness of the thermal boundary layer, which is the layer of fluid that has a significant temperature difference from the body it touches. As a result, the rate at which heat is removed from the glycerin can be faster, assuming other factors remain constant. This is why the free-stream velocity of hydrogen gas needs to be calculated for different mass flow rates of glycerin to ensure the desired outlet temperature is maintained. The relationship between these variables can be illustrated through a plot, providing a visual tool for understanding how changes in one parameter affect another in thermal systems.