Heat Transfer through Extended Surfaces

Parag Chaware

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Cummins College of Engineering, Pune

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Introduction

The rate of heat transfer from a

surface at a temperature Ts to
the surrounding medium at T∞
is given by Newton‘s law of
cooling.
Increasing h may require the
installation of a pump or fan.
The alternative is to increase
the surface area by attaching
extended surfaces called fins
made of highly conductive
materials such as aluminum.
Figure: Fins e.g. Radiator, Cylinder head of
IC engine

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Heat transfer through fin I

( Heat Conducted into element) = (Heat Conducted out of the element)

+ (Rate of heat convection from the element)

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Heat transfer through fin II

Q̇∆x = Q̇x+∆x + Q̇conv (1)

where,
Q̇conv = h(p∆x)(T − T∞ ) (2)
Dividing by ∆x we get,

Q̇x+∆x − Q̇∆x
+ hp(T − T∞ ) = 0 (3)
∆x
taking limit ∆x → 0

d(Q̇cond )
+ hp(T − T∞ ) = 0 (4)
dx
From Fourier‘s law
dT
Q̇cond = −kAc (5)
dx
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Heat transfer through fin III

 
d dT
−kAc + hp(T − T∞ ) = 0 (6)
dx dx
substituting eq. (5) in eq. (6) and assuming (T − T∞ ) = θ

d 2T
− m2 θ = 0 (7)
dx 2

r
hp
m= (8)
kAc

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Heat transfer through fin IV
Equation 7 is a linear, homogeneous, second-order differential equation
with constant coefficients. Therefore, the general solution of the
differential equation is

θ(x) = C1 e mx + C2 e −mx (9)

where C1 and C2 are arbitrary constants whose values are to be determined

from the boundary conditions at the base and at the tip of the fin.

Figure: Boundary Conditions for fin

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Heat transfer through fin V

θ(x) = C1 e mx + C2 e −mx (10)

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Infinitely Long fin I
For a sufficiently long fin of uniform cross section (Ac = constant), the
temperature of the fin at the fin tip will approach the environment
temperature T∞ .
So BC‘s are θ(L) = T − T∞ = 0 as L → ∞
So BC‘s are;

At x = 0 θ = θ0
At x = ∞ θ=0
First BC gives C1 + C2 = θ0
Since C2 e −mx is zero
C1 e mx = C2 e −mx (11)
Possible when C1 → 0
θ(x) = C2 e −mx (12)
Therefore

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Infinitely Long fin II

C2 = θ 0

applying BC’s at base i.e. θ(0) = T0 − T∞

T (x) = T∞ + (T0 − T∞ )e −mx (13)

and p
Qfin = hpkAc (T0 − T∞ ) (14)

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Insulated Tip I
Heat transfer from the fin is proportional to its surface area, and the
surface area of the fin tip is usually a negligible fraction of the total fin
area. Therefore;
BC1 
dθ 
=0 (15)
dx x=L
BC2
θ(0) = T0 − T∞ (16)
The temperature distribution is

θ coshm(L − x)
= (17)
θ0 coshmL
The heat transfer form fin is
p
Qfin = hPkAc (T0 − T∞ )tanhmL (18)

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Prescribed temperature

This is a condition when the temperature at the tip is known

θ (θL/θ0 )sinhmx + sinhm(L − x)

= (19)
θ0 sinhmL

p coshmL − (θL/θ0 )
Qfin = hPkAc (20)
sinhmL

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Fin Efficiency I

In the limiting case of zero

thermal resistance or infinite
thermal conductivity (k∞), the
temperature of the fin will be
uniform at the base value of T0
In reality, however, the
temperature of the fin will drop
along the fin, and thus the heat
transfer from the fin will be less
because of the decreasing
temperature difference
(T (x) − T0 ) toward the fin tip,

Figure: Fin temperature distribution

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Fin Efficiency II

Actual heat transfer rate from the fin

ηf = (21)
Ideal heat transfer rate from the fin if the entire
fin were at base temperature

√
hpkAc (T0 − T∞ ) 1
ηf long = = (22)
hAf (T0 − T∞ ) mL
(23)
(24)
√
hpkAc (T0 − T∞ )tanhmL tanhmL
ηf Insulated Tip = = (25)
hAf (T0 − T∞ ) mL

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Fin Effectiveness I

The performance of fins expressed in terms of the fin effectiveness (εf )

Q˙fin
εf = (26)
˙ fin
QWithout

Heat transfer rate from

εf = the fin of base area Ab (27)
Heat transfer rate from
the surface of area Ab

√ r
Qfin hpkAc (T0 − T∞ ) kp
εLong fin = = = (28)
QNo Fin hAc (T0 − T∞ ) hAc

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Fin Effectiveness II
k should be as high as possible, (copper, aluminum, iron). Aluminum
is preferred: low cost and weight, resistance to corrosion.
p/Ac should be as high as possible. (Thin plate fins and slender pin
fins)
Most effective in applications where h is low. (Use of fins justified if
when the medium is gas and heat transfer is by natural convection).
Therefor the fins are provided on gas side rather than liquid side.

Use of Fin
ε=0 Fin is not contributing the heat transfer

ε<0 Fin act as insulation (if low k material is used)

ε>0 Enhancing heat transfer (use of fins justified if fin> 2)

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Figure: Temperature distribution and heat loss for fins of uniform cross sectiona

a
Fundamentals of Heat Transfer by Incropera & Dewitt

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