Extended Surfaces

CHAPTER THREE

Section 3.6

1
 3.6 Extended Surfaces (Introduction)
(1) Fins are extended surfaces that are attached to the main surface in (2) a strut that connects two walls at different
order to increase the heat transfer by increasing the surface area. temperatures and across which there is fluid flow.
(also know as a combined conduction-convection system or a fin).

2
3
 3.6 Extended Surfaces (Introduction)
• In extended surface, the direction of heat transfer from the boundaries is perpendicular to T(x, y)
This is a 2D situation.
the principal direction of heat transfer in the solid.

y
• This is in contrast to what we have considered in previous sections where heat transfer 2t
from the boundaries of a solid are in the same direction as heat transfer by conduction in
the solid.
x

T(x)
This is a 1D assumption

y
2t
In practice, the fin is thin, and temperature changes in the transverse direction within the fin
are small compared with the temperature difference between the fin and the environment.
Hence, we may assume that the temperature is uniform across the fin thickness, that is, it is
only a function of x. x

4
 3.6.1 Fin configurations
• They are particularly beneficial when h is small, as for a gas and natural convection.

Ac = Cross sectional area of a fin;

Af = surface area of a fin Straight fins of (a) uniform and (b) non-uniform cross sections; (c) annular fin, and (d) pin fin of non-uniform cross section.
Ap = profile area of a fin (side view)

5
 3.6.1 The Fin Equation
• Apply conservation of energy to the differential element:

d 2T  1 dAc  dT hP
2
   (T T  )  0  3.66 
dx  Ac dx  dx kAc
• This result provides a general form of the energy equation for an
extended surface. Its solution for appropriate boundary conditions
provides the temperature distribution.
Perimeter

• 3.6.2 Fins of Uniform cross-sectional area: (Ac = constant, As = P.x)

hP
Introduce the variables

m2 
m and  as follows:

This is a linear, homogeneous,

d 2T hP kAc d 2
 (T  T )  0  m 2
  0 (3.69) 2nd order diff. Eq. with constant
dx 2 kAc  (x)  T (x) T  dx 2 coefficients. It has a solution of
the form

The derivation of fin equation: https://youtu.be/dOeLgPRN74Y  ( x)  C1emx  C2e mx

6
 3.6.2 Boundary Conditions
• The first boundary condition can be specified in terms of the
temperature at the base of the fin, at x=0: T(0) = Tb

  0   T b T   b

• There are four types at the tip of a fin, (x=L):

A. Convection:  kd  / dx |x  L  h  L  B. Adiabatic: d  / dx |x  L  0

Fin heat rate:

d
q f  qb  kAc |x 0   h  x  dAs
dx Af
C. Fixed temperature:   L    L D. Infinite fin (mL  2.65):   L   0 T L  T  

7
Hyperbolic Functions

8
 Solution for the four cases
2nd B.C. At x = L,

Substituting in  ( x)  C1emx  C2e mx

solve for C1 and C2

The fin heat transfer rate is

𝑑𝜃
𝑞𝑓 = −𝑘𝐴𝐶 ቤ
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=0

9
 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. Assume that
there is no heat transfer at the free end of the handle.
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

T (x)  T   cosh m ( L  x ) 95
 
x Tb T  b cosh mL T( x )

90
100 C T (x )  25  62.32 cosh[3.138(0.2  x )]
85
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
x

10
 How if a Stainless Steel handle is used instead
For a stainless steel, the thermal conductivity k = 15 W/m°C.
Use the same parameter as before: 100
1/2
 hP 
m    12.47, 75

 C 
kA
T( x) 50

M  hPkAC (75)  2.105 W

25

T (x ) T  cosh m (L  x )
 0
T b T  cosh mL 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
x
 T (x )  25  12.3cosh[12.47(L  x )]
Temperature at the handle (x=0.2 m) is only 37.3 °C, could be touched .
This example illustrates the important role played by the thermal conductivity of the material in terms of conductive heat transfer.

11
 Fin Performance Parameters
• Fin effectiveness εf : the ratio of the fin heat transfer rate to the heat transfer • e.g. Case D
rate that would exist without the fin.

f 
qf qf  M
It is better to use fins at least if f  2
hAc ,bb 12
 kP 
 f   
• qf is obtained from Table 3.4 for uniform cross-sectional area.  c
hA

• Fin resistance Rt,f : very important when you represent the finned surface by
thermal circuit.
b
R t ,f 
qf R t ,b After substituting Rt,b in
f 
1 R t ,f effectiveness equation
• Convection thermal resistance of the base (no fin)is R t ,b 
hAc ,b
12
 Fin Performance Parameters
• Fin efficiency 𝜂: Table 3.5 show efficiency for common geometries.

qf qf Actual heat transfer from the fin

f   
q f ,max hA f b Ideal heat transfer from the fin if it was all at Tb

• e.g. For straight fin, uniform area and adiabatic tip, Case B

q f  M tanh mL

M tanh mL tanh mL
f  
hPLb mL

13
Recall

Solution for the four cases

d
2nd B.C. At x = L, 0
dx x L

Substituting in  ( x)  C1emx  C2e mx

and dividing by m 0  C 1e mL  C 2e  mL

solve for C1 and C2 , we obtain

T (x)  T   cosh m ( L  x )
 
Tb T  b cosh mL
The fin heat transfer rate is

𝑑𝜃
𝑞𝑓 = −𝑘𝐴𝐶 𝑥=0 = ℎ𝑃𝑘𝐴𝐶 θ𝑏 tanh 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑀 tanh(𝑚𝐿)
𝑑𝑥
14
 Fin Performance Parameters
• WHAT if straight fin with uniform area has a convection H.T. condition (active tip), Case A
approximate Adiabatic equation with
q f  M tanh mLc
corrected fin length Lc

Ac
Lc  L 
tanh mLc P
f  w
t
mLc
assume, w  t
 P  2w
t
Lc  L 
2

Note that these figures and tables are prepared under the assumption of
insulated tip boundary condition. Thus if you have convective BC then use Lc

15
 q f  f q f , max
Figs 3.19 & 3.20 Table 3.5
hAf T b T  

12
 h 
Lc 3 2  
 kA p
 

16
 Example
A pin fin of uniform cross-sectional area is fabricated of an aluminum alloy (k = 150 W/m.K). The fin diameter is D = 3 mm,
and the fin is exposed to convective conditions characterized by h = 220 W/m2.K.
It is reported that the fin efficiency is 0.65. Determine the fin length L and the fin effectiveness εf. Account for tip convection.

qf
f  m  44.2m 1
hAc ,bb
Lc  0.0303m
L  0.0296m
  26.3
f

17
 Fin Arrays
- Total heat rate from the fins and the prime (non-finned) surface : b
Number of fins

qt  hAb (T b T  )  Nq f qf ,max  hAf (Tb - T )  hAf b

Recall
qf  f  qf ,max
qt  hAbb  N f hAf b
Figs 3.19 & 3.20
Table 3.5

b
qt  hAbb  N f hAf b  o hAt b 
Rt ,o • Representative arrays of (a) rectangular and (b) annular fins.

Total surface area Overall surface efficiency Overall surface resistance

Number of fins
NA f b 1
At  NA f  Ab (3.104) o  1  1  f  (3.107) R t ,o   (3.108)
At qt o hAt
Fin surface Area Area of exposed base (prime surface)
Table 3.5 = total base area – NAc,b

18
 Two ways for solving fin arrays problem
b b
qtot  
Rb Rf

qtot  hAbb  Nf hAf b 1

1 Rf 
Rb 
hAb N f hA f

Ab  At  NA f

qtot  hAbb  Nf hAf b

19
 𝑊
𝑘 = 186
𝑚𝐾

20
 2
𝐴𝑓 = 2𝜋(𝑟2𝑐 − 𝑟12 )

21
Prob. 3.144

Assumptions: (1) Steady-state, (2) One-

dimensional heat transfer, (3) Isothermal chip,
(4) Negligible heat transfer from top surface
of chip, (5) Negligible temperature rise for air
flow, (6) Uniform convection coefficient
associated with air flow through channels and
over outer surface of heat sink, (7) Negligible
radiation, (8) Adiabatic fin tips.

Determination of maximum allowable power qc for a 20 × 20 mm electronic chip whose

temperature is not to exceed Tc when the chip is attached to an air-cooled heat sink with
N = 11 fins of prescribed dimensions.

Tc = 85oC

W = 20 mm R”t,c= 2x10-6 m2-K/W

k = 180 W/m-K
L b= 3 mm
t Tc Rt,b Too
Lf = 15 mm
qc
Rt,c Rt,o
Too = 20oC S  = 1.8 mm
Air
h = 100 W/m2-K

22
 Tc = 85oC

W = 20 mm R”t,c= 2x10-6 m2-K/W

k = 180 W/m-K
L b= 3 mm
t Tc Rt,b Too
Lf = 15 mm
qc
Rt,c Rt,o
Too = 20oC S  = 1.8 mm
Air
h = 100 W/m2-K
Analysis: (a) From the thermal circuit,
Af = 2WLf = 2  0.02m  0.015m = 6  10-4 m2
T -T Tc -T 
qc = c  =
R tot Rt,c + Rt,b + Rt,o Ab = W2 – N(tW) = (0.02m)2 – 11(0.182  10-3 m  0.02m) = 3.6  10-4 m2

6 2
Rt,c  Rt,c / W  2  10 m  K/W /  0.02m   0.005 K/W At = 6.96  10-3 m2
2 2

Rt,b  Lb / k W   2 With mLf = (2h/kt)1/2 Lf = (200 W/m2K/180 W/mK  0.182  10-3m)1/2 (0.015m) =
1.17, tanh mLf = 0.824 and Eq. (3.94) yields

From Eqs. (3.108), (3.107), and (3.104) tanh mLf 0.824

f    0.704
mLf 1.17
Rt,o 
1
, o  1 
NAf
1  f  , At  NAf  Ab
qc 
85  20  °C  31.8 W
o h At o = 0.719,
At
 0.005  0.042  2.00  K/W
Rt,o = 2.00 K/W, and

23