JSS MAHAVIDYAPEETHA

JSS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

SRI JAYACHAMARAJENDRA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
• Constituent College of JSS Science and Technology University
• Approved by A.I.C.T.E.
• Governed by the Grant-in-Aid Rules of Government of Karnataka
• Identified as lead institution for World Bank Assistance under TEQIP Scheme

Heat and Mass Transfer

20ME620
UNIT -2 EXTENDED SURFACE
HEAT TRANSFER FROM EXTENDED SURFACES (FINS)
Fins are generally used to enhance the heat transfer from a given surface.
Consider a surface losing heat to the surroundings by convection. Then, the heat transfer
rate Q, is given by Newton’s Law of Cooling:

Q = h AS (TS - Ta)
where,

h = heat transfer coefficient between the surface and the ambient

As = exposed area of the surface
Ts = temperature of the surface, and
Ta = temperature of the surroundings.

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HEAT TRANSFER FROM EXTENDED SURFACES (FINS)
Now, if we need to increase the heat transfer rate from the surface, we can:

(i) increase the temperature potential, (Ts - Ta); but, this may not be possible
always since both these temperatures may not be in our control

(ii) increase the heat transfer coefficient h; this also may not be always
possible or it may need installing an external fan or pump to increase the
fluid velocity and this may involve cost consideration, or

(iii) increase the surface area As; in fact, this is the solution generally
adopted. Surface area is increased by adding an 'extended surface' (or,
fin)to the 'base surface' by extruding, welding or by simply fixing it
mechanically.
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Typical application areas of fins are:
(i) Radiators for automobiles
(ii) Air-cooling of cylinder heads of internal combustion engines (e.g. scooters,
motor cycles, aircraft engines), air compressors, etc.
(iii) Economizers of steam power plants
(iv) Heat exchangers of a wide variety, used in different industries
(v) Cooling of electric motors, transformers, etc.
(vi) Cooling of electronic equipments, chips, I.C. boards, etc.
(vii) Fin theory is also used to estimate error in temperature measurement
while using thermometers or thermocouples.
Types of fins:
There are innumerable types of fins used in
practice.
Some of the more common types are shown in Fig.
Types of fins:

Fig.(a) longitudinal fin of rectangular profile

Fig.(b) cylindrical tube with fins of rectangular
profile
Fig.(c) longitudinal fin of trapezoidal profile
Fig.(d) longitudinal fin of triangular profile
Fig.(e) longitudinal fin of parabolic profile
Fig.(f) cylindrical pin fin
Fig.(g) truncated conical spine
Fig.(h) parabolic spine
Fig.(i) cylindrical tube with radial fin of rectangular
or truncated conical profile.
Fins of Uniform Cross Section (Rectangular or Circular)- Governing
Differential Equation
Let us analyse heat transfer in a fin of rectangular cross section. Same analysis will be valid
for a fin of circular cross section also.
Consider a fin of rectangular cross section attached to the base surface, as shown in Fig.
Let L be the length of fin, w, its width and t, its thickness. Let P be the perimeter = 2 (w + t).
Let Ac be the area of cross section, and, To, the temperature at the base, as shown.
Assumptions:
(i) Steady state conduction, with no heat generation in the fin
(ii) Thickness t is small compared to length L and width w, i.e. one-dimensional conduction in the
X- direction only.
(iii) Thermal conductivity, k of the fin material is constant.
(iv) Isotropic (i.e. constant k in all directions) and homogeneous (i.e. constant density) material.
(v) Uniform heat transfer coefficient h, over the entire length of fin.
(vi) No bond resistance in the joint between the fin and the base wall, and
(vii) Negligible radiation effect.
Base temperature, To is higher than the ambient temperature, Ta. Temperature will drop
along the fin from the base to the tip of the fin, as shown in Fig. (b). Heat transfer will
occur by conduction along the length of the fin and by convection, with a heat transfer
coefficient h, from the surface of the fin to the ambient.

Aim is to derive a differential equation governing the temperature distribution in the fin.
Once we get the temperature field, heat flux at any point can easily be obtained by
applying Fourier's law.
Consider an elemental section of thickness dx at a distance x from the base
as shown. Let us write an energy balance for this element:
Energy going into the element by conduction = (Energy leaving the element
by conduction + Energy leaving the surface of the element by convection)
….. (1)

Qx = heat conducted into the element at x

Qx+dx = heat conducted out of the element at x + dx, and
Qconv = heat convected from the surface of the element to ambient

We have:
 were,
As = surface area of the element
P = perimeter.
Substituting the terms in Eq. 1,

…..2
Note that m has units of: (m¯¹) and is a constant, since for a given operating conditions of a
fin, generally h and k are assumed to be constant.
Now, define excess temperature,

Substituting in Eq. 2,
…..3

Eq. 3 is the governing differential equation for the fin of uniform cross section considered.
Eq. 3 is a second order, linear, ordinary differential equation. Its general solution is given by calculus
theory, in two equivalent forms:
…..4

where, C₁ and C₂ are constants

 ….. 5

where A and B are constants, and cos h and sin h are hyperbolic functions, defined in Table 1.
Eq. 4 or 5 describes the temperature distribution in the fin along its length.
To calculate the set of constants C1 and C2, or A and B, we need two boundary
conditions:
One of the B.C.'s is that the temperature of the fin at its base, i.e. at x = 0, is T0
and this is considered as known.
i.e. B.C. (i): at x = 0, T = T0
Regarding the second boundary condition, there are several possibilities:
Case (i) Infinitely long fin,
Case (ii) Fin insulated at its end (i.e. negligible heat loss from the end of the fin),
Case (iii) Fin losing heat from its end by convection, and
Case (iv) Fin with specified temperature at its end.
Infinitely Long Fin
This simply means that the fin is very long.
Consequence of this assumption is that
temperature at the tip of the fin approaches that of
the surrounding ambient as the fin length
approaches infinity. See Fig.(a).
The governing differential equation, as already
derived, is given by Eq. 3

….. 1

And, we shall choose for its solution for temperature

distribution Eq. 4, i.e.
….. 2

C₁ and C₂ are obtained from the B'C.'s:

 and Eqn: 2

and Eqn: 2

Substituting C₁ and C₂ back in eqn. 2 we get:

Eq. gives the temperature distribution in an infinitely long fin of uniform cross section, along the length. This
is shown graphically in Fig. Note that temperature distribution is exponential.
To determine the heat transfer rate:
Heat transfer rate from the fin may be determined by the application of Fourier's law at
the base of the fin, i.e. in steady state, the heat transfer from the fin must be equal to the
heat conducted into the fin at its base.
A very long, 25 mm diameter copper rod (k = 380 W/(mC)), extends
horizontally from a plane heated wall at 150°C. Temperature of
surrounding air is 30°C and heat transfer coefficient between the
surface of the rod and the surroundings is 10 W/(m²K).
(i) Determine the rate of heat loss from the rod
Data:
D = 0.025 m
T = 30°C
L=∞m
h = 10 W/(m²C)
Heat transfer rate from the rod:
Calculate the amount of energy required to solder
together two very long pieces of bare copper wire
1.5 mm in diameter with solder that melts at 190°C.
The wires are positioned vertically in air at 20°C.
Assume that the heat transfer coefficient on the wire
surface is 20W/m²°C and thermal conductivity of wire
alloy is 330 W/m°C.
It is required to heat oil to about 300°C for frying purpose.
A laddle is used in the frying. The section of the handle is
5mm×18mm. The surroundings are at 30°C. The conductivity
of the material is 205 W/m°C. If the temperature at a
distance of 380 mm from the oil should not reach 40°C,
determine the convective heat transfer coefficient.
Aluminum square fins (0.5 mm x 0.5 mm) of 1 cm length are
provided on the surface of an electronic semiconductor
device to carry 46 mW of energy generated by the electronic
device and the temperature at the surface of the device should
not exceed 80°C. The temperature of the surrounding medium
is 40°C. Thermal conductivity of aluminium =190 W/(mK) and
heat transfer coefficient h = 12.5 W/(m²K). Find number of fins
required to carry out the above duty. Neglect the heat loss
from the end of the fin.
Find out the amount of heat transferred through an iron fin of
length 50 mm, width 100 mm and thickness 5 mm. Assume
k = 210 W/m°C and h = 42 W/m²°C for the material of the fin
and the temperature at the base of the fin as 80°C. Also
determine the temperature at tip of the fin, if the atmosphere
temperature is 20°C.
A motor body is 360 mm in diameter (outside) and
240 mm long. Its surface temperature should not exceed
55°C when dissipating 340 W. Longitudinal fins of 15 mm
thickness and 40 mm height are proposed. The
convection coefficient is 40 W/m²°C. Determine the
number of fins required. Atmospheric temperature is
30°C. Thermal conductivity = 40 W/m°C.
l = 40 mm = 0.04 m b = 240 mm = 0.24 m y = 15 mm = 0.015 m

k = 40 W/m°C h = 40 W/m²°C, To = 55°C

Ta = 30°C Qtotal = 340 W

The given problem is a case of heat dissipation from a fin losing heat
at the tip (short fin situation).
A turbine blade made of stainless steel (k = 29 W/m°C) is 60 mm
long, 500 mm² cross-sectional area and 120 mm perimeter. The
temperature of the root of blade is 480°C and it is exposed to
products of combustion passing through the turbine at 820°C. If
the film coefficient between the blade and the combustion
gases is 320 W/m²°C, determine :
(i) The temperature at the middle of the blade;
(ii) The rate of heat flow from the blade.
l = 60 mm = 0.06 m A = 500 mm² = 500 × 100 m² P = 120 mm = 0.12 m
TO = 480°C Ta = 820°C k = 29 W/m°C
h = 320 W/m²°C.
A longitudinal copper fin (k = 380 W/m°C) 600 mm long and
5 mm diameter is exposed to air stream at 20°C. The
convective heat transfer coefficient is 20W/m²°C. If the fin
base temperature is 150°C, determine:
(i) The heat transferred, and
(ii) The efficiency of the fin.
Length of the fin, I = 600 mm = 0.6 m
Diameter of the fin, d = 5 mm = 0.005 m
The fin base temperature, TO = 150°C
Air stream temperature, Ta = 20°C
Thermal conductivity of fin material, k = 380 W/m°C
Convective heat transfer coefficient h = 20 W/m²°C
A steel rod (k = 32 W/m°C), 12 mm in diameter and 60 mm
long, with an insulated end, is to be used as a spine. It is
exposed to surroundings with a temperature of 60°C and a
heat transfer coefficient of 55 W/m²°C. The temperature at
the base of fin is 95°C. Determine :
(i) The fin efficiency,
(ii) The temperature at the edge of the spine;
(iii) The heat dissipation.
d = 12 mm = 0.012 m l = 60 mm = 0.06 m t = 60°C (k = 32 W/m°C)
h = 55 W/m²°C TO = 95°C.