Chapter 3

Extended Surfaces / Fins

Chapter 3
Extended Surfaces (Fins)
An extended surface (also known as a combined conduction-
convection system or a fin) is a solid within which heat transfer by
conduction is assumed to be one dimensional, while heat is also
transferred by convection (and/or radiation) from the surface in a
direction transverse to that of conduction
36
Chapter 3
Heat Transfer from Extended Surfaces
Extended surfaces may exist in many situations but are commonly
used as fins to enhance heat transfer by increasing the surface
area available for convection (and/or radiation).
37
Chapter 3
Typical Fin Configurations
38
Chapter 3
Fins of Uniform Cross-Sectional Area
Assuming one-dimensional, steady-state conduction in an extended
surface of constant conductivity and uniform cross-sectional area with
negligible generation and radiation, the fin equation is of the form:
0
2
2
=

) ( T T
kA
hP
dx
T d
c
where p is the fin perimeter
39

= T T
b b
u

= T x T ) ( u
Define:
(3.6.1)
Chapter 3
Boundary Conditions
At the base T = T
b
or u(0)=u
b
At the tip:
Case A: Convection heat transfer
Case B: Adiabatic tip
Case C: Prescribed temperature,
u(L)=u
L
Case D: Infinite fin, T(L)=T or
u(L)=0

Case A
40
Chapter 3
Solutions of Differential Equation
) (

= T T hPkA q
b c f
41
(3.6.2)
Chapter 3
True or False?
Heat is transferred from hot water flowing through a tube to air flowing
over the tube. To enhance the heat transfer rate the fins should be
installed on the tube interior surface (the hot water side)

Fins are particularly beneficial when h is small (typical for a gas or
when only natural convection exists).

Ideally the fin material should have a large thermal conductivity to
minimize temperature variations from its base to its tip.



Chapter 3
Selection of fin material (Example 3.9)
k
Cu
>k
Al
>k
SS
(1)
(2)
(3)
SS
Al
Cu
Chapter 3
Example: Problem 3.116
Assessment of cooling scheme for gas turbine blade.
(a) Determine whether the blade temperature is less than the maximum
allowable value (1050 C) for the prescribed operating conditions
(b) Evaluate blade cooling rate.
Assume that convective heat losses from the surface are negligible, i.e.
adiabatic tip condition.
42
Chapter 3
Fin Performance
Fin effectiveness: Ratio of the fin heat transfer rate q
f
to the heat transfer
rate that would exist without the fin
b b c
f
f
hA
q
u
c
,
=
c
f
should be as large as possible (at least >2)
For a very long (infinite) fin (Case D boundary condition):
2 1/
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
f
hA
kP
c
where u
b
=T
b
-T

, and A
c,b
is the fin cross-
sectional area at the base

43
(3.6.3)
(3.6.4)
Chapter 3
Fin Performance
f t
b
f t
b
f
R R
T T
q
, ,
u
=

=

Fin heat transfer rate:
where R
t,f
is the fin resistance

Can express fin effectiveness as a ratio of thermal resistances:
f t
b t
f
R
R
,
,
= c
where R
t,b
is the resistance due to
convection of the exposed base (=1/hA
c,b
)

44
Chapter 3
Fin Performance
Fin efficiency: The ratio of the actual heat transfer rate from the fin to the
maximum rate at which a fin could dissipate energy
b f
f f
f
hA
q
q
q
u
q = =
max
See Table 3.5 and Figures 3.18 and
3.19 for the efficiencies of common fin
shapes
f f
f t
hA
R
q
1
=
,
We can use the
efficiency to
calculate the fin
resistance
45
(3.6.5)
(3.6.6)
Chapter 3
Fin Arrays
Define the overall efficiency, q
o
as
) (
f
t
f
o
A
NA
q q = 1 1
where N is the number of fins in the
array, A
f
the surface area of each
fin and A
t
the total surface area.
We can then calculate the heat rate
for the fin array
b t o t
hA q u q =
Thermal resistance of the fin array
t o
o t
hA
R
q
1
=
,
) (
f
t
f
o
A
NA
q q = 1 1
46
b t
t t
o
hA
q
q
q
u
q = =
max
(3.6.7)
(3.6.8)
(3.6.9)
Chapter 3
Fin Manufacturing
Care must be exercised to
ensure that the thermal contact
resistance does not adversely
influence the overall fin
performance
47
Chapter 3
Example
As more components are placed on a single integrated circuit (chip),
the amount of heat dissipated increases. The maximum allowable chip
operating temperature, is approximately 75C. Suggest ways to
maximize heat dissipation.
Top view
Side view
Air, T=20C
48
Chapter 3
Fins in Heat Exchangers
Widely used to achieve large heat rates per unit volume, particularly when one
or both fluids is a gas.
Characterized by large heat transfer surface areas per unit volume (>700
m
2
/m
3
), small flow passages, and laminar flow.
Chapter 3
Fin (extended surface) effects
Fins reduce the resistance to convection heat transfer, by increasing
surface area.
The expression for the overall heat transfer coefficient includes overall
surface efficiency, or temperature efficiency, q
o
, of the finned surface,
which depends on the type of fin (see also Ch. 3.6.5)
h o h o
h f
conduction
c o
c f
c o
hA A
R
R
A
R
hA UA ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
"
,
"
,
q q q q
1 1 1
+ + + + =
(11.5)
where c is for cold and h for hot fluids respectively