ME 301: Conduction and

Radiation Heat Transfer

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 Fin: Extended Surface to increase Heat Transfer
Fins are surfaces that extend from an object to increase the rate of heat transfer to or
from the environment by increasing convection. Heat transfer can be enhanced by:

▪ Increasing the temperature gradient

between the object and the
environment,
▪ Increasing the convection heat transfer
coefficient
▪ Increasing the surface area of the
object increases the heat transfer.

Sometimes it is not feasible or economical to

change the first two options. Thus, adding a
fin to an object, increases the surface area and
can sometimes be an economical solution to
heat transfer problems.

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 Classification of Fin

Straight Fin Straight Fin Annular Fin Pin Fin

(Uniform x- (Non-uniform
sectional area x-sectional
area)

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Application of Fin

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Application of Fin

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Fin Material

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 Heat Transfer Analysis of Fin

Energy Balance in a Control Volume of

Fin

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 Heat Transfer Analysis of Fin

Fin of Constant X-sectional Area

dAs/dx = p (Perimeter)

Boundary Condition:01 Boundary Condition: 02

May be four different types:
Convective/Adiabatic/Constant
Temp/Infinite Long

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Heat Transfer Analysis of Fin: Convective BC at Fin Tip

Boundary Condition:01 (x = 0)

Boundary Condition: 02 (x = L)

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Heat Transfer Characteristics of Fin for various Tip Boundary
Conditions

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 Fin Performance Parameter

Fin Efficiency

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 Fin Performance Parameter

Fin Effectiveness

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 Applicability of Fin

In any rational design the value of fin should be as large as possible, and in general, the
use of fins may rarely be justified unless fin >2.
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Factors to be Considered in Design and selection of Fin

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Fin Resistance

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 Corrected Fin Length
Active Fin Insulated Fin

Tip Condition

Heat Transfer
through Fin

Fins subjected to convection at their tips can be treated as fins with insulated tips by
replacing the actual fin length by the corrected length as:

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 Proper Fin Length: Finite vs. Infinite Length
An important step in the design of a fin is the determination of the appropriate length of the fin
once the fin material and the fin cross section are specified. One may assume that the longer the
fin, the larger the surface area and thus the higher the rate of heat transfer. Therefore, for
maximum heat transfer, the fin should be infinitely long. However, the temperature drops along
the fin exponentially and reaches the environment temperature at some length. The part of the
fin beyond this length does not contribute to heat transfer since it is at the temperature of the
environment.

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Overall Surface Efficiency for Multi Finned Surface

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Overall Surface Efficiency for Multi Finned Surface

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Conduction Shape Factor

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Conduction Shape Factor for Common Configuration

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Conduction Shape Factor for Common Configuration

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Heat Transfer from Multi-Finned Surface

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Problem: 01
Aluminum fins (k = 240 W/mK) of triangular profile are attached to a plane wall whose
surface temperature is 250°C. The fin base thickness is 2 mm, and its length is 6 mm. The
system is in ambient air at a temperature of 20°C, and the surface convection coefficient is 40
W/m2 K.
(a) What are the fin efficiency and effectiveness?
(b) What is the heat dissipated per unit width by a single fin?

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 Problem: 02
Find the Heat Transfer Rate
Per Unit Meter of Fin
Tg = 1100 K Length
hg = 150 W/m2K

T = 320 K
h  = 100 W/m2K

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Problem: 03

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Finished!

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 Solution
Problem: 01

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Problem: 02

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 Solution
Problem: 02

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 Solution
Problem: 02

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Problem: 04

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