EXTENDED SURFACES / FINS

Convection: Heat transfer between a solid surface and a moving

fluid is governed by the Newton’s cooling law: q = hA(Ts-T).
Therefore, to increase the convective heat transfer, one can

 Increase the temperature difference (Ts-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

Tb P: the fin perimeter

Ac: the fin cross-sectional area

dq x
q x   kAC
dT q x  dx  qx  dx
dx dx

AC is the cross-sectional area

dq conv  h( dAS )(T  T ), where dA S is the surface area of the element

dq x
Energy Balance: q x  q x  dx  dq conv  q x  dx  hdAS (T  T )
dx
d 2T
 kAC 2
dx  hP(T  T )dx  0, if k, A C are all constants.
dx
 Extended Surface Analysis
(contd….)
d 2 T hP
2
 (T  T )  0, A second - order, ordinary differential equation
dx kAC
Define a new variable  ( x ) = T ( x )  T , so that
d 2 hP
2
 m 2
  0, where m 2
 , ( D 2
 m 2
)  0
dx kAC
Characteristics equation with two real roots: + m & - m
The general solution is of the form
 ( x )  C1e mx  C2 e  mx
To evaluate the two constants C 1 and C 2 , we need to specify
two boundary conditions:
The first one is obvious: the base temperature is known as T(0) = Tb
The second condition will depend on the end condition of the tip
 Extended Surface Analysis (contd...)

For example: assume the tip is insulated and no heat transfer

d/dx(x=L)=0

The temperature distribution is given by

T ( x)  T  cosh m( L  x)
 
Tb  T b cosh(mL)
The fin heat transfer rate is given by
dT
q f  kAC ( x  0)  hPkAC tanh mL  M tan mL
dx
 Temperature distribution for fins of
different configurations
Case Tip Condition Temp. Distribution Fin heat transfer
A Convection heat cosh m( L  x )  ( h ) sinh m( L  x ) sinh mL  ( h ) cosh mL
transfer: mk M o mk
h(L)=-k(d/dx)x=L cosh mL  ( h ) sinh mL cosh mL  ( h ) sinh mL
mk mk

B Adiabatic cosh m( L  x ) M 0 tanh mL

(d/dx)x=L=0 cosh mL
C Given temperature: L ) sinh m( L  x )  sinh m( L  x ) (cosh mL 
L
(L)=L
(
b b )
M 0
sinh mL sinh mL

D Infinitely long fin e  mx M 0

(L)=0
hP
  T  T , m2 
kAC
 b   (0)  Tb  T , M  hPkAC  b
 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 25C, and the convection
coefficient is 5 W/m2 C. Question: can you touch the handle
when the water is boiling? (k for aluminum is 237 W/m C)

T = 25 C
h = 5 W/ m2 C

100 C
 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/ m2 C, P=2W+2t=2(0.03+0.005)=0.07(m), k=237 W/mC,
AC=Wt=0.00015(m2), L=0.2(m)
Therefore, m=(hP/kAC)1/2=3.138,
M=(hPkAC)(Tb-T)=0.111b=0.111(100-25)=8.325(W)
T ( x ) - T  cosh m( L  x )
 
Tb  T b cosh mL
T  25 . (0.2  x )]
cosh[3138
 ,
100  25 cosh(3138
. * 0.2)
T ( x )  25  62.32 * cosh[3138
. (0.2  x )]
 Example (contd…)
Plot the temperature distribution along the pot handle
100

95
T( x )

90

85
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
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)=90.4C. At the end T(0.2)=87.3C.
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. qf=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/m°C,
which is much less compared to aluminium.
Using the same process parameter as before:

1/ 2
 hP 
m     12.47, M  hPkAC  0.0281
 kAC 
 Example (contd...)
T ( x )  T cosh m( L  x )

Tb  T cosh mL
T ( x )  25  12.3 cosh[12.47( L  x )]
100

75

T( x) 50

25

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
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
T
Total heat loss: qf=Mtanh(mL) for an
Tb adiabatic fin, or qf=Mtanh(mLC) if there is
convective heat transfer at the tip
hP
where m= , and M= hPkA C b  hPkA C (Tb  T )
kAc
Use the thermal resistance concept:
(T  T )
q f  hPkA C tanh( mL)(Tb  T )  b 
Rt , f
where Rt , f is the thermal resistance of the fin.
For a fin with an adiabatic tip, the fin resistance can be expressed as
(Tb  T ) 1
Rt , f  
qf hPkA C [tanh(mL)]
 Fin Effectiveness
How effective a fin can enhance heat transfer is characterized by the
fin effectiveness f: Ratio of fin heat transfer and the heat transfer
without the fin. For an adiabatic fin:
qf qf hPkA C tanh(mL) kP
f     tanh(mL)
q hAC (Tb  T ) hAC hAC
If the fin is long enough, mL>2, tanh(mL)  1,
it can be considered an infinite fin (case D of table3.4)
kP k P 
f    
hAC h  AC 
In order to enhance heat transfer,  f  1.
However,  f  2 will be considered justifiable
If  f <1 then we have an insulator instead of a heat fin
 Fin Effectiveness
(contd...)
kP k P 
f    
hAC h  AC 

 To increase f, the fin’s material should have higher thermal

conductivity, k.
 It seems to be counterintuitive that the lower convection
coefficient, h, the higher 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?)
 Fin Effectiveness
(contd...)

 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 f.

 Conclusion: It is preferred to use thin and closely spaced

(to increase the total number) fins.
 Fin Effectiveness (contd...)

The effectiveness of a fin can also be characterized as

qf qf (Tb  T ) / Rt , f Rt ,h
f    
q hAC (Tb  T ) (Tb  T ) / Rt ,h Rt , f
It is a ratio of the thermal resistance due to convection to
the thermal resistance of a fin. In order to enhance heat transfer,
the fin's resistance should be lower than that of the resistance
due only to convection.
 Fin Efficiency

qf
Define Fin efficiency:  f 
q max
where q max 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.
q max  hA f (Tb  T )
 Fin Efficiency
(contd…)

For infinite k
T(x)<Tb for heat transfer T(x)=Tb, the heat transfer
to take place is maximum

Tb
x x
Total fin heat transfer qf Ideal heat transfer qmax

Real situation Ideal situation

 Fin Efficiency (cont.)
Use an adiabatic rectangular fin as an example:
qf M ta n h m L h P k A c ( T b  T  ) ta n h m L
   
h A f (Tb  T ) h P L (Tb  T )
f
q m ax
ta n h m L ta n h m L
  ( s e e T a b le 3 .5 f o r  f o f c o m m o n f in s )
hP mL
L
k Ac
T h e f in h e a t tr a n s f e r : q f   f q m a x   f h A f ( T b  T  )
Tb  T T  T 1
qf   b , w h ere Rt, f 
1 /( f h A f ) Rt, f  f hA f
T h e r m a l r e s is ta n c e f o r a s in g le f in .
1
A s c o m p a r e d to c o n v e c tiv e h e a t tr a n s f e r : R t , b 
h Ab
In o r d e r to h a v e a lo w e r r e s is ta n c e a s th a t is r e q u ir e d to
e n h a n c e h e a t tr a n s f e r : R t , b  R t , f o r A b   f A f
 Overall Fin Efficiency

Overall fin efficiency for an array of fins:

Define terms: Ab: base area exposed to coolant

qf
Af: surface area of a single fin
qb At: total area including base area and total
finned surface, At=Ab+NAf
N: total number of fins
 Overall Fin Efficiency
(contd…)

qt  qb  Nqf  hAb (Tb  T )  N f hAf (Tb  T )

 h[( At  NAf )  N f Af ](Tb  T )  h[ At  NAf (1  f )](Tb  T )
NAf
 hAt [1  (1  f )](Tb  T )  OhAt (Tb  T )
At
NAf
Define overall fin efficiency: O  1  (1  f )
At
 Heat Transfer from a Fin
Array

Tb  T 1
qt  hAtO (Tb  T )  where Rt ,O 
Rt ,O hAtO
Compare to heat transfer without fins
1
q  hA(Tb  T )  h( Ab  NAb, f )(Tb  T ) 
hA
where Ab,f is the base area (unexposed) for the fin
To enhance heat transfer AtO  A
That is, to increase the effective area O At .
 Thermal Resistance Concept
L1 t A=Ab+NAb,f

Rb=t/(kbA)
T1 T1 T2 Tb T
T

R1=L1/(k1A) Rt ,O  1 /( hAtO )

T1  T T1  T
T2 Tb q 
 R R1  Rb  Rt ,O