Experimental determination of heat transfer coefficient in natural convection within a inclined channel

An experimental test to study natural convection heat transfer to air within a trapezoidal channel area was carried out, heating one of its faces. The temperature in different points along the heated face, inlet and outlet air temperature, environment temperature, the current and voltage supplied to the heater were measured. From the measures, the power applied and the average heat transfer coefficient in the channel were determined. During the experimental test the power applied, channel inclination and the air entrance and exit position, were changed. The values obtained from the different test modes show that the heat transfer coefficient is independent of the power and strongly dependent of the channel inclination and channel position. (author)