BOAT HANDRAIL HEATING

SYSTEM

Group 11Oscar GarciaNik HartneyPamela MillsNicole Turner

Boat Hand Rails Used to provide a secure handhold

Exposed to external weather conditions

Susceptible to temperature changes

May become uncomfortable to hold

Heating System Allows passengers to remain

secure

Provides comfort

Helps prevent frostbite

Design Needs to run off of minimal energy

Versatile enough to be applied to any boat with an inboard engine

Must have a controllable temperature as to not overheat or remain too cool

Alternate Designs

Electrical resistance heater

Seawater coolant heat exchanger

+ -Resistive Heater

Electrical Source

Heat Exchanger

Sea Water Feed

Heating Fluid

HandrailPump

Final Design

Raw seawater coolant flowing directly through handrail

Harnesses waste thermal energy No need for complex electrical system

Handrail

Seawater Exhaust

Design Specifics Dual opposing flows to regulate

average temperature Thermally conductive fluid conduit Variable throttle for seawater

coolant intake Open fluid system Piping system insulation

Computations and Testing

System parameter assumptions

Km

W

D

kNuhext 2

3.51

External Forced convective heat transfer

Trail = 27C Tatmosphere = -20C

Drail = 2 inches = 0.051m Vwind = 20 mi/h = 8.94m/s

Texhaust=92 C kWQengine 342

Computations and Testing

Handrail heat loss per meter

mW

TTDhl

Qoext

/8.3842533000508.03.51

)( 2,2

Computations and Testing

KmWD

Nukh 2

int /88.12901905.0

676.066.3

lnTcmQ p

KAh

QT 506.49

01905.088.129

8.384

intln

Log mean temperature difference

Computations and Testing

Mass flow rate and Velocity of seawater

sec/00186.0506.4918.4

3848.0

ln

kgTc

Qm

p

sec/00326.0

01905.01000

00186.02222

mD

mV

Cost Analysis Piping material

selection: inexpensive, conductive

Connections and Valves

External thermometer

Conclusion Provide a temperature controlled

railing system Minimal impact on boat’s systems Allow comfort and security for boat

passengers