(5)

Estimating the Convection Heat Transfer Coefficient

in Fins

‫علي قاسم صاحب علي‬

The third

Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Engineering

Heat Transfer Laboratory

Objective :
To Estimating the convection heat transfer coefficient in fin for natural convection.

Theory :
In the study of 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. The amount of conduction,
convection, or radiation of an object determines the amount of heat it transfers. Increasing the
temperature gradient between the object and the environment, increasing the convection heat
transfer coefficient, or 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.
• Applying Newton's law and solving for surface temperature, for specified and T ͚ ,
surface temperature Ts can be altered by changing h. This can be done by changing the
fluid, surface geometry and/or fluid motion. On the other hand, for specified surface
temperature Ts and ambient temperature T ͚ , Newton's law shows that surface flux can
be altered by changing h.
• Since h is not a property, its values cannot be tabulated as is the case with thermal
conductivity, enthalpy, density, etc Nevertheless, it is useful to have a rough idea of its
magnitude for common processes and fluids. Table 1.1 gives the approximate range of
h for various conditions.

𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ[𝑚(𝐿𝑐 − 𝑥)]
=
𝑇˳ − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ 𝑚. 𝑙𝑐
m=√(hp/kA)
Procedure :
1. Turn on the heater after adjusting it to first value of temperature.
2. Wait until the temperature of water in storage tank reach to steady state and record the
temperatures along known distance of the fin.
3. Read and record the ambient air temperature.
4 . Re adjusting the heater to second and third value which decided in laboratory with repeat
steps 2 and 3.
5. Turn-off the power of heater.

Calculation :
Tp 64.5 51 44 40 38.4 37.9 37.4 36.9 36.4 35.9 35.5
X 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.465
T(h=10) 64.5 60.9 57.9 55.4 53.3 51.6 50.3 49.3 48.6 48.2 47.5
T(h=17) 64.5 59.6 55.6 52.4 49.8 47.8 46.2 45.1 44.3 43.9 43.8
T(h=26) 64.5 58.4 53.7 49.9 47.1 44.9 43.3 42.1 41.3 40.9 40.8

T= 0.019 , 𝑇∞ = 35.5 , 𝑇˳ = 64.5

P = 0076m
A = 0.00036𝑚2
K = 237 , L = 465cm
𝑡 0.019
𝐿𝑐 = 𝐿 + → 𝐿𝑐 = 0.465 + = 0.46975
4 4
𝑤
ℎ = 10 , m=√(hp/kA) → m=√(10*0.076 / 237*0.00036) = 2.9804
𝑚2 .℃

𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ[𝑚(𝐿𝑐 − 𝑥)]
=
𝑇˳ − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ 𝑚. 𝑙𝑐
T1=64.5 T8=50.2
T2=62.7 T9=49.5
T3=59.4 T10=49
T4=56.7 T11=48.9
T5=54.5
T6=52.7
T7=51.3
 𝑤
𝑇∞ = 35.5 , 𝑇˳ = 64.5 , 𝐿𝑐 = 0.46975 , h=17
𝑚2 .℃

m=√(hp/kA) → m=√(17*0.076 / 237*0.00036) = 3.8914

𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ[𝑚(𝐿𝑐 − 𝑥)]
=
𝑇˳ − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ 𝑚. 𝑙𝑐
T1=64.5 T8=45.1
T2=59.6 T9=44.3
T3=55.6 T10=43.9
T4=52.4 T11=43.8
T5=49.8
T6=47.8
T7=46.2
𝑤
𝑇∞ = 35.5 , 𝑇˳ = 64.5 , 𝐿𝑐 = 0.46975 , h=26
𝑚2 .℃

m=√(hp/kA) → m=√(26*0.076 / 237*0.00036) = 4.8125

𝑇 − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ[𝑚(𝐿𝑐 − 𝑥)]
=
𝑇˳ − 𝑇∞ 𝐶𝑂𝑆ℎ 𝑚. 𝑙𝑐
T1=64.5 T8=42.1
T2=58.4 T9=41.3
T3=53.7 T10=40.9
T4=49.9 T11=40.8
T5=47.1
T6=44.9
T7=43.3

7)
6)
Discussion :
1.Why is the value of (Tp) different with the rest of the values, and which
is the nearest value of (Tp)?
-The closest value to the other values is (T = 27),
6 due to the difference in the value of (m),
which changes due to the change of the value (h) in the equation.

2. How is the rate of heat transfer from the fin given?

A fin is a surface that extends from an object to increase the rate of heat transfer to or from the
environment by increase convection, We also assume that the convection heat transfer
coefficient h to be constant and uniform over the entire surface of the fin.

3. What is the effect of convective heat transfer coefficient on fin

effectiveness?
(a) the greater the value of heat transfer coefficient of convection h, the smaller the efficiency
fin and effectiveness fins.
(b) In circumstances of unsteady state, the efficiency and effectivity influenced by the value
of density, specific heat, heat transfer coefficient of conduction .

4. What is the difference between thermal conductivity and heat transfer

coefficient?
The thermal conductivity of the fluid is related to the spatial molecular diffusion of heat
throughout the fluid. The convective heat transfer coefficient is related to transport of heat due
to the bulk motion of the fluid above or around a solid.

5. What does the convection coefficient depend on?

The heat convection coefficient, the most important parameter for the convection process,
is dependent on not only the wind velocity (the speed of air convection near the pavement
surface) but also the pavement surface characteristics