Chapter 2b

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D.
Gould
HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

II-7. Finned or Extended Surfaces (see text, Sec. 3.6)
The heat conducted through a wall must usually be removed by convection.
Recall:
qconv h , Awetted surface , T
to increase cooling for fixed T, consider an extended surface.

h , h,TT
perimeter, P
q conv
t
q x
q x+dx
Tb
base
temp.
w
x
cross-sectional
area, A c
dx
L
With no fins
qconv Awetted surface h Tb T
Tb T Tb T
1
Rconv
Awet h
Chapter 2 Page 40
MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

Increasing convection surface area increases q, but increasing surface area means
L (i.e., T T
increasing L (length of fin) which increases R
).
tip
base
cond
kAc
Only if Rcond Rconv is the addition of fins useful
(i.e., internal resistance << external resistance).
The Biot number is a non-dimensional number which is a ratio of the conduction resistance
(internal) to the convection resistance.
Bi
R
h
h
convection
th,cond
k s k s conductance of solid Rth,conv
volume
where
is a characteristic length,
.
wetted area
t
For rectangular fin
(will show later)
2
If Bi < 0.1, then fins will enhance the heat transfer (i.e., k ~ large, h ~ small)
Chapter 2 Page 41

1-D Rectangular or Pin Fin (uniform cross-sectional area)
1.
Geometry & assumptions

-steady state
-1-D, T(x) only
-no source, q 0
-k is constant
2.
Identify control volume Acdx
3.
Perform conservation of energy

q
q x+dx
q x
x
conv
dx
Chapter 2 Page 42

Conservation of energy for differential control volume gives
dU
qin qout E g
dt
heat heat

conducted
- conducted
at x x + dx
q x kAc
q x dx q x
heat lost
= 0
-
by convection
dT
dx
d q x
dT d
dT
dx kAc
kAc
dx
dx
dx dx
dx
dqconv hPdxT x T
Chapter 2 Page 43

Dividing by dx
d 2T
kAc
dx
d 2T
or
dx
hPT x T 0
hP
T x T 0
kAc
m2
Defining
d 2T x
dx
Define the temperature difference as

Note:
d x dT x
dx
dx
and
d 2 x
dx 2
(convenience)
m 2 T x T 0
x T x T
d 2
dx
hP
kAc
[Eq. 3-67]
m 2 x 0
d 2T
dx 2
[Eq. 3-69]
Chapter 2 Page 44

The general solution to this linear 2nd order homogeneous ordinary differential equation is
x C1e mx C2 e mx
[Eq. 3.71]
To find the temperature distribution in the fin, T(x), and qconv(x) or qbase we need
only to apply the two boundary conditions.
Fin Case D (Long fin T L T )
Governing equation
Base B.C.
Tip B.C.
d 2
dx 2
m 2 0 in x > 0
0 Tb T b at x = 0
x 0 or T x T
as x
From tip B.C., C1 must equal 0 so that (x) is bounded as x
x C2 e mx
Chapter 2 Page 45

From base B.C. C2 b
or
x b e mx
x T x T
mx
e
e
Tb T
b
hP x
kAc
[Eq. 3.84]
The heat transfer rate can be found by using Newtons law of cooling
L
x 0
x 0
q f hP x dx hP b e
mx
hP
b e mx
dx
m
x L
x 0
hP b
h 2 P 2 b
hP
0 b
kAc PhkAc b
m
m
hP
q f PhkAc b
[Eq. 3-85]
or using Fouriers law at the base of the fin, we get the same result.
q f Ac k
d x
Ac k b me mx
dx x 0
x 0
Akm b b PhkAc
Chapter 2 Page 46

Fin Case B (insulated at tip)
d 2
dx
m 2 0
in 0 x L
B.C. at base
0 Tb T b
at x = 0
B.C. at tip
d
0
dx
at x = L
General Solution
x C1e mx C2e mx
mx
mx
e
e
e mx e mx
Note:
,
coshmx
sinh mx
2
2
Therefore, the general solution can also be written as
, tanh mx sinh mx
cosh mx
x C3cosh mx C4sinh mx
C3e mx C3e mx C4 e mx C4 e mx
2
2
2
2
C C4 mx C3 C4 mx
3
e
e
2
2
Chapter 2 Page 47

C3 C4
C C4
C1 3
2
2
Note:
Constants can be related. If we find the solution in one form we could
convert it to the other!
C2
The solution to fin case B (insulated tip) is
The total heat rate is
x T x T coshmL x
b
Tb T
coshmL
[Eq. 3-80]
q f b PhkAc tanhmL
[Eq. 3-81]
Chapter 2 Page 48

Fin Case A (Convection at Tip)
d 2
dx
in 0 x L
m 2 2 0
B.C. at base
0 Tb T b
B.C. at tip
k
k
d x
h x 0
dx
dT
dx
hT
xL
dT d
dx dx
k
General solution
at x = 0
d
dx
xL
T
h
x L
at x = L
xL
xL
xL
at x = L
x C5coshm L x C6sinh m L x
Chapter 2 Page 49

The solution to fin case A is
h
coshmL x
sinhmL x
x T x T
mk
Tb T
b
h
cosh mL
sinh mL
mk
[Eq. 3.75]
The total heat rate
q f b
mL
mL
sinh
cosh
mk
PhkAc
cosh mL
sinh mL
mk
[Eq. 3-77]
Chapter 2 Page 50
Chapter 2 Page 51

When should fins be added to surface?
t
x
L
P 2w t 2w1
w
For thin fin (t << w):
P 2w
Ac wt
and
Calculation of characteristic length for thin fin
volume
Awetted surface
Lwt wt t
PL 2w 2
Chapter 2 Page 52

Consider result for convective heat transfer at tip case
q f b
Note that m
sinh
cosh
mL
mL
mk
PhkAc
cosh mL
sinh mL
mk
[Eq. 3-77]
Ph
2h
for thin rectangular cross-section fin!

kAc
kt
To find effect of fin length, L, on the heat transfer find
dq f
dL
from (3-77).
For all values of L > 0 the results show:

dq f
ht
1 gives
0 adding length produces insulating effect!
dL
2k
dq f
ht
1 gives dL 0 adding length produces no cooling effect!
2k
dq f
ht
gives
1
0 adding length produces a cooling effect and
dL
2k
thus there is an advantage to adding a fin.
Chapter 2 Page 53

Thus for economic reasons, it is best to leave the primary surface (i.e. base area) free of
ht
fins unless:
1
2k
h
Bi
0. 1
or introducing the Biot number:
k ~
Add fins if:
k large
h small
For forced convection where the fluid is liquid or for condensing vapors
W ht
don't add fins
h ~ 1000 10,000
1
m 2 C 2k
or
For surfaces exchanging heat with a low speed gas, h ~ 5 20
W
2
m C
, add fins.
For these reasons fins are found on air-cooled engines, boiler air preheaters and
economizers, air conditioner evaporators & condensers, auto radiators, etc., but not for
water to water heat exchangers, condensers, etc.
Chapter 2 Page 54

Fin Performance Parameters
Fin Effectiveness, f
qf
qf
actual heat tranfer through fin
heat transfer without fin

qw / o Ac,b h b
For long rectangular fin case D (simple),

12
kP
f
hA
c
12
2k

ht
12
1

Bi
[Eq. 3-87]
In general, fins should not be used unless 2 - 3. This requires that Bi 0.1 - 0.25.
Fin Efficiency, f
actual heat tranfer through fin

ideal heat transfer through fin
qf
qmax
if entire fin were at fin base temp. Tb
where,
and
qmax A f hTb T A f h b
A f wetted fin surface area
Chapter 2 Page 55

For a rectangular cross-section fin with an insulated end
q f b PhkAc tanhmL
[Eq. 3.81]
A f PL
qmax PLh b
b PhkAc tanh mL
kAc tanh mL tanh mL
b PLh
mL
L Ph
[Eq. 3.92]
Chapter 2 Page 56

Knowing the fin efficiency allows one to calculate qf as
q f f qmax f A f h b
This relationship is plotted in Figures 3.19 and 3.20 on p. 166-167.
Lc3/2(h/kAp)1/2
Lc and Ap are geometry dependent and are defined in Figures 3.19 and 3.20.
In addition Fig. 3.20 for circumferential fins requires evaluation of r2c

Procedure for use of Figures 3.19 and 3.20
1. Calculate Lc3/2(h/kAp)1/2 (and r2c/r1 for circumferential fins)
2. Read fin efficiency, f, from appropriate figure
3. Calculate qf using
q f f A f h b
Chapter 2 Page 57
Figure 3.19
Chapter 2 Page 58

Corrected length and the insulated tip approximation
Consider a rectangular profile fin with convection at tip
The heat transfer from this fin can be approximated to good accuracy by unwrapping
the tip area and using the much simpler insulated tip fin formula. A corrected length
accounts for the heat transfer from the tip of the actual fin.
Insulated tip
L
t/2
Lc
Chapter 2 Page 59

Recall for tip convection:
q f b
h
sinh
cosh
mL
mL
mk
PhkAc
cosh mL
sinh mL
mk
[Eq. 3-77]
We can use the simpler insulated tip formula if we correct the length:
q f b PhkAc tanhmLc
[Eq. 3-93]
Chapter 2 Page 60

Fin array analysis
For a fin lattice (array)

qt qf quf
qb
quf
If there is thermal contact resistance between the base and the fin, draw the thermal
circuit and apply the proper rate equations written in terms of their thermal
resistances!
Chapter 2 Page 61

Example Problem 2.5
Given: An aluminum (k = 240 W/m-K) rectangular cross-section fin of length
1.5 cm, thickness 0.25 cm and h 280 W
.
2
m C
Find:
The fin efficiency, f, for a this fin.
Chapter 2 Page 62

Example Problem 2.5 (contd)
Chapter 2 Page 63

Example Problem 2.6
Given:
Circular aluminum fins of constant rectangular profile are attached to a tube of

outside diameter D = 5 cm. The fins have thickness t = 2 mm, height
L = 15 mm, thermal conductivity k = 200 W/m-C, and spacing 8 mm. The tube
surface is maintained at a uniform temperature Tb = 200 C, and the fins
dissipate heat by convection into the ambient air at T = 30 C with heat
transfer coefficient h = 50 W/m2-C.
ri
T
b
t
s
Find: Net heat transfer per 1m length of tube.
Chapter 2 Page 64

Chapter 2 Page 65

Chapter 2 Page 66
Figure 3.20
Chapter 2 Page 67

Chapter 2b

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MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D.

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

qconv h , Awetted surface , T

to increase cooling for fixed T, consider an extended surface.

qconv Awetted surface h Tb T

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

Geometry & assumptions

Identify control volume Acdx

Perform conservation of energy

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

Define the temperature difference as

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

From tip B.C., C1 must equal 0 so that (x) is bounded as x

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

The solution to fin case B (insulated tip) is

The total heat rate is

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

The total heat rate

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

For thin fin (t << w):

Calculation of characteristic length for thin fin

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

for thin rectangular cross-section fin!

To find effect of fin length, L, on the heat transfer find

For all values of L > 0 the results show:

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

For surfaces exchanging heat with a low speed gas, h ~ 5 20

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

heat transfer without fin

For long rectangular fin case D (simple),

actual heat tranfer through fin

if entire fin were at fin base temp. Tb

A f wetted fin surface area

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

This relationship is plotted in Figures 3.19 and 3.20 on p. 166-167.

In addition Fig. 3.20 for circumferential fins requires evaluation of r2c

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS

MAE 310 course notes Fall 2011, Copyrighted by R. D. Gould

HEAT TRANSFER FUNDAMENTALS