Heat Transfer & Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Lab

Experiment # 05

LAB REPORT
Submitted By:
Umar Siab khan
Roll # 42
BSME 19-23
Submitted to: Sir Ammar Ahmed

Department of Mechanical Engineering (Batch 2019-23)

Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences,
Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan.
 Table of Contents
5.1 Abstract: ............................................................................................................................................... 5
5.2 Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 5
5.3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5
5.4 Experimental Setup........................................................................................................................... 6
5.5 Theory............................................................................................................................................... 6
5.4.1 Extended Surfaces ..................................................................................................................... 6
5.4.2 Temperature Distribution along an Extended Surface .............................................................. 8
5.6 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 9
A. Effect of extended surfaces ........................................................................................................... 9
B. Temperature Distribution along an External Surface ....................................................................... 9
5.7 Observation and Calculations ........................................................................................................... 9
5.8 Sample Calculations: .......................................................................................................................... 11
5.9 Result and Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 12
 List of Figures

Figure 1: Experimental setup .......................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2: Fins .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Figure 3: Fins .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Figure 4: Typical graph of air velocities against surface temperature ............................................................ 7

Figure 5: Graph of surface temperature against distance from back plate ...................................................... 8

Figure 6Temperature Difference in Pin and Fin Heat Exchanger ................................................................. 10

Figure 7 Temperatures Along Heat Exchanger Length ................................................................................ 11

Experiment 5
Study of the heat transfer through extended surfaces
5.1 Abstract:
In this experiment, our objective was to study heat transfer through extended surfaces.
Extended surfaces are used to enhance the heat transfer coefficient due to the increased surface
area. Because the surface temperature of fins was lower than that of pins at the same power
level, the surface temperature of the finned plate was lowered to maintain the equilibrium for
constant heat transfer rate. Due to the lower heat transfer rate, this equilibrium point is achieved
at a greater surface temperature in the case of pinned plates. For both pinned and finned
surfaces, the graph reveals a nearly linear relationship between air velocity and plate
temperature. The temperature distribution is shown for only three velocities for both pinned
and finned data. This distribution shows that by increasing the distance, the temperature
decreases. One more thing can be noted from the graph, which is for same air velocity, the
pinned surface had greater temperatures as compared to finned surface. There were various
errors involved in the experiment such as human errors, systematic errors etc.
5.2 Learning Objectives
 To understand the effect of extended surfaces on the heat transfer by convection
 Compare the heat transfer from flat, pinned and finned surfaces
 Determination of the temperature distribution along the external surface (finned)

5.3 Introduction
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.
Fins are most commonly used in heat exchanging devices such as radiators in cars, computer
CPU heatsinks, and heat exchangers in power plants. They are also used in newer technology
such as hydrogen fuel cells. Nature has also taken advantage of the phenomena of fins. The
ears of jackrabbits and fennec foxes act as fins to release heat from the blood that flows through
them.
5.4 Experimental Setup
Model: EES-TH-3104

Figure 1: Experimental setup

5.5 Theory
5.4.1 Extended Surfaces
Heat transfer from an object can be improved by increasing the surface area in contact with the
air. In practice it may be difficult to increase the size of the body to suit. In these circumstances
the surface area in contact with the air may be increased by adding fins or pins normal to the
surface. These features are called extended surfaces. A typical example is the use of fins on the
cylinder and bead of an air cooled petrol engine. The effect of extended surfaces can be
demonstrated by comparing finned and pinned surfaces with a flat plate under the same
conditions of power input and airflow.
 Figure 2

Figure 3: Fins

Figure 4: Typical graph of air velocities against surface temperature

5.4.2 Temperature Distribution along an Extended Surface
For a heat exchanger to be 100% efficient, the whole of the extended surface must be at the
same temperature as the backplane. In practice, this cannot occur because the flow of heat along
the pins or fins by conduction causes a temperature gradient to occur. The greater this gradient,
the less efficient the heat exchanger will be.
The efficiency of the heat exchanger must not be confused with the effect of a change in surface
area e.g. comparing pinned and finned. For example, if the pinned and finned heat exchangers
supplied with the equipment are compared, the pin is more efficient than the fin (slightly
smaller temperature gradient) but the finned exchanger has a significantly larger surface area
than the pinned exchanger and can dissipate more heat for the same surface temperature.

Figure 5: Graph of surface temperature against distance from back plate

5.6 Procedure
A. Effect of extended surfaces
1. Place the heat exchanger into the duct.
2. Set up the heat exchanger.
3. Set the heater power control to 75 Watts. Allow the temperature to rise to 80°C, and
then adjust the heater power control to 15 Watts until a steady reading is obtained.
4. Set the fan speed control to give l m/s using the thermal anemometer. Record heated
plate temperature (TH) and the ambient temperature (TA).
5. Repeat this procedure at 2 and 2.5 m/s for the flat plate. Repeat the experiment by
replacing the flat plate with the finned plate and pinned plate.

B. Temperature Distribution along an External Surface

1. Measure from the back plate the distance of the three access holes on the pinned and
finned heat exchangers.
2. Set up the heat exchanger
3. Set the heater power control to 60 watts. Allow sufficient time to achieve steady state
conditions before noting the heated plate temperature (TH) and the ambient temperature
(TA).
4. Insert the temperature probe into the duct through the hole nearest the heated plate
ensuring that the tip of the probe is in contact with the pin. A small amount of heat
conducting compound on the tip will ensure a good thermal contact. Note this
temperature (Tl).
5. Record the pin temperatures (T2 and T3) using the remaining two holes. Repeat this
procedure at 1.0 m/s and 2 m/s and so on.
6. Remove the pinned heat exchanger and replace with the finned heat exchanger. Repeat
complete experiment.

5.7 Observation and Calculations

Effect of extended surfaces

a) Power input = 20.13 watts
b) Distance nearest hole = 21 mm
 c) Distance from middle hole = 69 mm
d) Distance from farthest hole = 117 mm

Table 1: Temperature Difference in Pin and Fin Heat Exchanger

Velocity Ambient Temperature

Plate Temperature (0C) TH – TA (0C)
(m/s) (0C)
Pinned Finned Pinned Finned
2.07 33.1 36.3 16.3 16.8 19.9
2.35 30.2 34.3 16.3 13.9 18
2.45 29.2 32.4 16.3 12.9 16.1
3 28.4 31.4 16.3 12.1 15.1

Air Velocity Vs TH-TA

3.5

2.5
Air Velocity (m/s)

1.5

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
TH - TA (Degrees Celcius)

Pin Fin

Figure 6Temperature Difference in Pin and Fin Heat Exchanger

Table 2: Temperatures Along Heat Exchanger Length

Temperature, (0C)
Air velocity
t1 t2 t3
(m/s)
Pinned Finned Pinned Finned Pinned Finned
2.07 34 36.4 32.8 34.6 30 32
2.35 38.2 39.5 37.2 38 35.2 36.7
2.5 42 44.2 41.5 43.7 38.4 42
 Temperature vs Distance
44
Temperature /Degrees Celcius

42
40
38
36
34
32
30
28
10 30 50 70 90 110 130
Distance / mm

Pin 2.07 m/s Fin 2.07 m/s Pin 2.35 m/s

Fin 2.35 m/s Pin 2.5 m/s Fin 2.5 m/s

Figure 7 Temperatures Along Heat Exchanger Length

5.8 Sample Calculations:

Pinned
Th-Ta=33-16.3 =16.8 °C

Finned
Th-Ta=36.3-16.3=19.9 °C
 5.9 Result and Discussion
The experiment was performed, and desired data and results were obtained. Extended surfaces
are used to enhance the heat transfer coefficient due to the increased surface area. Because the
surface temperature of fins was lower than that of pins at the same power level, the surface
temperature of the finned plate was lowered to maintain the equilibrium for constant heat
transfer rate. Due to the lower heat transfer rate, this equilibrium point is achieved at a greater
surface temperature in the case of pinned plates. As a result, a finned plate rejects more heat
for the same surface temperature as a pinned plate. For both pinned and finned surfaces, the
graph reveals a nearly linear relationship between air velocity and plate temperature. The figure
2 shows the graph between temperature and distance. The temperature distribution is shown
for only three velocities (2.07 m/s, 2.35 m/s and 2.5 m/s) for both pinned and finned data. This
distribution shows that by increasing the distance, the temperature decreases. One more thing
can be noted from the graph, which is for same air velocity, the pinned surface had greater
temperatures as compared to finned surface.
There are various errors involved in the experiment. Some of them are mentioned below:
 The major source of error is that for the system to reach steady state, considerable
amount of time is required.
 The values of temperatures were fluctuating during the experiment.
 During calculations, the heat transfer was assumed to occur in 1 dimension only,
but actually the heat transfer occurs in 3 dimensions.
 Human error might occur while noting down the data.
 Heat losses to the environment.
 Systematic, random and unknown errors might also had occurred.
Following points can be concluded from the experiment.
 The air velocities and temperature of the plates varies almost linearly.
 Heat transfer in finned plates is greater as compared to that in pinned plates for same
surface temperature.
 Various errors were involved in the experiment such as human error, systematic errors,
and random errors.
 The results of the experiment show that the objectives of the experiment had been
successfully achieved.