EXTENDED SURFACES / FINS

Convection: Heat transfer between a solid surface and a moving

fluid is governed by the Newtons cooling law: q = hA(T
s
-T

).
Therefore, to increase the convective heat transfer, one can
Increase the temperature difference (T
s
-T

) between the
surface and the fluid.
Increase the convection coefficient h. This can be
accomplished by increasing the fluid flow over the surface since
h is a function of the flow velocity and the higher the velocity,
the higher the h. Example: a cooling fan.
Increase the contact surface area A. Example: a heat sink
with fins.
Extended Surface Analysis
x
T
b
q kA
dT
dx
x C
=
q q
dq
dx
dx
x dx x
x
+
= +
dq h dA T T
conv S
=

( )( ), where dA is the surface area of the element
S
A
C
is the cross-sectional area
Energy Balance:
if k, A are all constants.
x
C
q q dq q
dq
dx
dx hdA T T
kA
d T
dx
dx hP T T dx
x dx conv x
x
S
C
= + = + +
+ =
+

( )
( ) ,
2
2
0
P: the fin perimeter
A
c
: the fin cross-sectional area
Extended Surface Analysis
(contd.)
d T
dx
hP
kA
T T
x T x T
d
dx
m
hP
kA
D m
x C e C e
C
C
mx mx
2
2
2
2
2 2 2
1 2
0
0 0
=

= = =
= +

( ) ,
( ) ( ) ,
, , ( )
( )
,
A second - order, ordinary differential equation
Define a new variable = so that
where m
Characteristics equation with two real roots: + m & - m
The general solution is of the form
To evaluate the two constants C and C we need to specify
two boundary conditions:
The first one is obvious: the base temperature is known as T(0) = T
The second condition will depend on the end condition of the tip
2
1 2
b
u
u
u u
u
Extended Surface Analysis (contd...)
For example: assume the tip is insulated and no heat transfer
du/dx(x=L)=0
The temperature distribution is given by
) cosh(
) ( cosh ) (
mL
x L m
T T
T x T
b b

= =

u
u
The fin heat transfer rate is given by
mL M mL hPkA x
dx
dT
kA q
C C f
tan tanh ) 0 ( = = = =
Temperature distribution for fins of
different configurations
Case Tip Condition Temp. Distribution Fin heat transfer
A Convection heat
transfer:
hu(L)=-k(du/dx)
x=L

mL
mk
h
mL
x L m
mk
h
x L m
sinh ) ( cosh
) ( sinh ) ( ) ( cosh
+
+

M
mL
mk
h
mL
mL
mk
h
mL
o
sinh ) ( cosh
cosh ) ( sinh
+
+
u
B Adiabatic
(du/dx)
x=L
=0
mL
x L m
cosh
) ( cosh

mL M tanh
0
u
C Given temperature:
u(L)= u
L

mL
x L m x L m
b
L
sinh
) ( sinh ) ( sinh ) ( +
u
u

mL
mL
M
b
L
sinh
) (cosh
0
u
u
u


D Infinitely long fin
u(L)=0
mx
e

M
0
u

b C b b
C
hPkA M T T
kA
hP
m T T
u u u
u
= = =

, ) 0 (
,
2
Example
An Aluminum pot is used to boil water as shown below. The
handle of the pot is 20-cm long, 3-cm wide, and 0.5-cm thick.
The pot is exposed to room air at 25C, and the convection
coefficient is 5 W/m
2
C. Question: can you touch the handle
when the water is boiling? (k for aluminum is 237 W/m C)
100 C
T

= 25 C
h = 5 W/ m
2
C
x
Example (contd...)
We can model the pot handle as an extended surface. Assume that
there is no heat transfer at the free end of the handle. The condition
matches that specified in the fins Table, case B. Use the following
data:
h=5 W/ m
2
C, P=2W+2t=2(0.03+0.005)=0.07(m), k=237 W/mC,
A
C
=Wt=0.00015(m
2
), L=0.2(m)
Therefore, m=(hP/kA
C
)
1/2
=3.138,
M=\(hPkA
C
)(T
b
-T

)=0.111u
b
=0.111(100-25)=8.325(W)
T x T
T T
m L x
mL
T x
T x x
b b
( ) cosh ( )
cosh
cosh[ . ( . )]
cosh( . * . )
,
( ) . * cosh[ . ( . )]
-

= =

=

= +
u
u
25
100 25
3138 0 2
3138 0 2
25 62 32 3138 0 2
Example (contd)
Plot the temperature distribution along the pot handle
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
85
90
95
100
T( ) x
x
As shown in the figure, temperature drops off but not very steeply.
This is because k of aluminium is fairly high.
At the midpoint, T(0.1)=90.4C. At the end T(0.2)=87.3C.
Therefore, it should not be safe to touch the end of the handle.
The end condition is insulated, hence the gradient is zero.
Example (contd...)
The total heat transfer through the handle can be calculated
also. q
f
=Mtanh(mL)=8.325tanh[(3.138)(0.2)]=4.632 W
If a stainless steel handle is used instead, what will happen?
For a stainless steel, the thermal conductivity k=15 W/mC,
which is much less compared to aluminium.
Using the same process parameter as before:
0281 . 0 , 47 . 12
2 / 1
= = =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
C
C
hPkA M
kA
hP
m
Example (contd...)
)] ( 47 . 12 cosh[ 3 . 12 25 ) (
cosh
) ( cosh ) (
x L x T
mL
x L m
T T
T x T
b
+ =

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

0
25
50
75
100
T x ( )
x
Temperature at the handle (x=0.2 m) is only 37.3 C, not hot at
all. This example illustrates the important role of the thermal
conductivity of the material in the temperature distribution in a
fin.
Fin Design
Total heat loss: q
f
=Mtanh(mL) for an
adiabatic fin, or q
f
=Mtanh(mL
C
) if there is
convective heat transfer at the tip
C C
C
,
,
hP
where = , and M= hPkA hPkA ( )
Use the thermal resistance concept:
( )
hPkA tanh( )( )
where is the thermal resistance of the fin.
For a fin with an adiabatic tip, the fin
b b
c
b
f b
t f
t f
m T T
kA
T T
q mL T T
R
R
u

= =
,
C
resistance can be expressed as
( ) 1
hPkA [tanh( )]
b
t f
f
T T
R
q
mL

= =
T
b
T

Fin Effectiveness
How effective a fin can enhance heat transfer is characterized by the
fin effectiveness c
f
: Ratio of fin heat transfer and the heat transfer
without the fin. For an adiabatic fin:
C
hPkA tanh( )
tanh( )
( )
If the fin is long enough, mL>2, tanh(mL) 1,
it can be considered an infinite fin (case D of table3.4)
In order to enhance heat tra
f f
f
C b C C
f
C C
q q
mL
kP
mL
q hA T T hA hA
kP k P
hA h A
c
c

= = = =

| |
=
|
\ .
nsfer, 1.
However, 2 will be considered justifiable
If <1 then we have an insulator instead of a heat fin
f
f
f
c
c
c
>
>
Fin Effectiveness
(contd...)
To increase c
f
, the fins material should have higher thermal
conductivity, k.
It seems to be counterintuitive that the lower convection
coefficient, h, the higher c
f
. But it is not because if h is very high,
it is not necessary to enhance heat transfer by adding heat fins.
Therefore, heat fins are more effective if h is low. Observation: If
fins are to be used on surfaces separating gas and liquid. Fins are
usually placed on the gas side. (Why?)
f
C C
kP k P
hA h A
c
| |
=
|
\ .
P/AC should be as high as possible. Use a square fin with
a dimension of W by W as an example: P=4W, AC=W2,
P/AC=(4/W). The smaller W, the higher the P/AC, and the
higher cf.
Conclusion: It is preferred to use thin and closely spaced
(to increase the total number) fins.
Fin Effectiveness
(contd...)
Fin Effectiveness (contd...)
, ,
, ,
The effectiveness of a fin can also be characterized as
( ) /
( ) ( ) /
It is a ratio of the thermal resistance due to convection to
the thermal resistance of a fin
f f b t f t h
f
C b b t h t f
q q T T R R
q hA T T T T R R
c

= = = =

. In order to enhance heat transfer,
the fin's resistance should be lower than that of the resistance
due only to convection.
Fin Efficiency
Define Fin efficiency:
where represents an idealized situation such that the fin is made up
of material with infinite thermal conductivity. Therefore, the fin should
be at the same temperature as the temperature of the base.
f
n =
=

q
q
q
q hA T T
f
f b
max
max
max
( )
T(x)<T
b
for heat transfer
to take place
Total fin heat transfer q
f
Real situation
Ideal situation
For infinite k
T(x)=T
b,
the heat transfer
is maximum
Ideal heat transfer q
max
T
b
x
x
Fin Efficiency
(contd)
Fin Efficiency (cont.)
Use an adiabatic rectangular fin as an example:
ma x
f
ma x
,
,
( ) t a n h
t a n h
( ) ( )
t a n h t a n h
( s e e T a b l e 3 . 5 f or of c ommon f i n s )
T h e f i n h e a t t r a n s f e r : ( )
, w h e r e
1 / ( )
f c b
f
f b b
c
f f f f b
b b
f t f
f f t f
q h P k A T T m L
M m L
q h A T T h P L T T
m L m L
m L
h P
L
k A
q q h A T T
T T T T
q R
h A R
n
n
n n
n

= = =

= =
= =

= =
,
, , b
1
T h e r ma l r e s i s t a n c e f or a s i n gl e f i n .
1
A s c omp a r e d t o c on ve c t i ve h e a t t r a n s f e r :
In or d e r t o h a ve a l ow e r r e s i s t a n c e a s t h a t i s r e q u i r e d t o
e n h a n c e h e a t t r a n s f e r : or A
f f
t b
b
t b t f f f
h A
R
h A
R R A
n
n
=
=
> <
Overall Fin Efficiency
Overall fin efficiency for an array of fins:
Define terms: A
b
: base area exposed to coolant
A
f
: surface area of a single fin
A
t
: total area including base area and total
finned surface, A
t
=A
b
+NA
f
N: total number of fins
q
b
q
f
Overall Fin Efficiency
(contd)
( ) ( )
[( ) ]( ) [ (1 )]( )
[1 (1 )]( ) ( )
Define overall fin efficiency: 1 (1 )
t b f b b f f b
t f f f b t f f b
f
t f b O t b
t
f
O f
t
q q Nq hA T T N hA T T
h A NA N A T T h A NA T T
NA
hA T T hA T T
A
NA
A
n
n n
n n
n n



= + = +
= + =
= =
=
Heat Transfer from a Fin
Array
,
,
,
,
1
( ) where
Compare to heat transfer without fins
1
( ) ( )( )
where is the base area (unexposed) for the fin
To enhance heat transfer
Th
b
t t O b t O
t O t O
b b b f b
b f
t O
T T
q hA T T R
R hA
q hA T T h A NA T T
hA
A
A A
n
n
n

= = =
= = + =
>>
O
at is, to increase the effective area .
t
A n
Thermal Resistance Concept
T
1
T

T
b
T
2
T
1
T

T
b
T
2
L
1
t
R
1
=L
1
/(k
1
A)
R
b
=t/(k
b
A)
) /( 1
, O t O t
hA R n =
1 1
1 , b t O
T T T T
q
R R R R


= =
+ +

A=A
b
+NA
b,f