EXTENDED SURFACES

S.Sivakumar
Associate professor,
Department of Automobile Engineering,
Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore.
sivakumar.s.auto@kct.ac.in Mob: 9444283430

Keeping warm or cool
The bigger the difference in temperature between an object and its
surroundings, the greater the rate at which heat energy is transferred. Other
factors also affect the rate at which an object transfers energy by heating.
These include the:

surface area and volume of the object
material used to make the object
nature of the surface that the object is touching.

Engineering design
Engineers design heat transfer devices so that they gain or lose heat energy
efficiently. For example, car radiators are flat, with many small fins to
provide a large surface area. Similarly, household radiators are thin and
flat, and may have fins so that heat energy is transferred to the room
quickly.





Animal adaptations
Small animals like mice have a large surface
area compared to their volume. They lose heat
to their surroundings very quickly and must eat
a lot of food to replace the energy lost.

Large animals like elephants have a different problem. They
have a small surface area compared to their volume. They
lose heat to their surroundings more slowly and may even
have difficulty avoiding over heating. Elephants have large
ears with a large surface area compared to their volume.
These allow heat to be transferred from the elephant to its
surroundings, helping to keep the animal cool.

Extended Surfaces
An extended surface - combined conduction-convection system :

Fin is a solid within which heat transfer by conduction is assumed
to be one dimensional, while heat is also transferred by convection (and/or
radiation) from the surface in a direction transverse to that of conduction.

.
Extended surfaces may exist in many situations but are commonly used as
fins to enhance heat transfer by increasing the surface area available for
convection (and/or radiation).
Some typical fin configurations:
Straight fins of (a) uniform and (b) non-uniform cross sections; (c) annular
fin, and (d) pin fin of non-uniform cross section.
Extended Surface Analysis
x
T
b

q kA
dT
dx
x C
=
q q
dq
dx
dx
x dx x
x
+
= +
dq h dA T T
conv S
=

( )( ), where dA is the surface area of the element
S
A
C
is the cross-sectional area
Energy Balance:
if k, A are all constants.
x
C
q q dq q
dq
dx
dx hdA T T
kA
d T
dx
dx hP T T dx
x dx conv x
x
S
C
= + = + +
+ =
+

( )
( ) ,
2
2
0
P: the fin perimeter
A
c
: the fin cross-sectional area
d T
dx
hP
kA
T T
x T x T
d
dx
m
hP
kA
D m
x C e C e
C
C
mx mx
2
2
2
2
2 2 2
1 2
0
0 0
=

= = =
= +

( ) ,
( ) ( ) ,
, , ( )
( )
,
A second - order, ordinary differential equation
Define a new variable = so that
where m
Characteristics equation with two real roots: + m & - m
The general solution is of the form
To evaluate the two constants C and C we need to specify
two boundary conditions:
The first one is obvious: the base temperature is known as T(0) = T
The second condition will depend on the end condition of the tip
2
1 2
b
u
u
u u
u
Temperature distribution for fins of different configurations
Case Tip Condition Temp. Distribution Fin heat transfer
A Convection heat
transfer:
hu(L)=-k(du/dx)
x=L

mL
mk
h
mL
x L m
mk
h
x L m
sinh ) ( cosh
) ( sinh ) ( ) ( cosh
+
+

M
mL
mk
h
mL
mL
mk
h
mL
sinh ) ( cosh
cosh ) ( sinh
+
+

B Adiabatic
(du/dx)
x=L
=0
mL
x L m
cosh
) ( cosh

mL Mtanh
C Given temperature:
u(L)= u
L

mL
x L m x L m
b
L
sinh
) ( sinh ) ( sinh ) ( +
u
u

mL
mL
M
b
L
sinh
) (cosh
u
u

D Infinitely long fin
u(L)=0
mx
e

M

b C b b
C
hPkA M T T
kA
hP
m T T
u u u
u
= = =

, ) 0 (
,
2
Note: This table is adopted from Introduction to Heat Transfer
by Frank Incropera and David DeWitt
Extended Surface Analysis (cont.)
For example: assume the tip is insulated and no heat transfer
du/dx(x=L)=0
The temperature distribution is given by
-
The fin heat transfer rate is
These results and other solutions using different end conditions are
tabulated in Table 3.4 in HT textbook, p. 118.
T x T
T T
m L x
mL
q kA
dT
dx
x hPkA mL M mL
b b
f C C
( ) cosh ( )
cosh
( ) tanh tanh

= =

= = = =
u
u
0
the following fins table
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 25C, and the
convection coefficient is 5 W/m
2
C. Question: can you touch the handle when the
water is boiling? (k for aluminum is 237 W/m C)
100 C
T

= 25 C
h = 5 W/ m
2
C
x
Example (cont.)
We can model the pot handle as an extended surface. Assume that there is no heat
transfer at the free end of the handle. The condition matches that specified in the fins
Table, case B.
h=5 W/ m
2
C, P=2W+2t=2(0.03+0.005)=0.07(m), k=237 W/m C,
A
C
=Wt=0.00015(m
2
), L=0.2(m)
Therefore, m=(hP/kA
C
)
1/2
=3.138,
M=\(hPkA
C
)(T
b
-T

)=0.111u
b
=0.111(100-25)=8.325(W)
T x T
T T
m L x
mL
T x
T x x
b b
( ) cosh ( )
cosh
cosh[ . ( . )]
cosh( . * . )
,
( ) . * cosh[ . ( . )]
-

= =

=

= +
u
u
25
100 25
3138 0 2
3138 0 2
25 62 32 3138 0 2
Example (cont.)
Plot the temperature distribution along the pot handle
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
85
90
95
100
T( ) x
x
As shown, temperature drops off very quickly. At the midpoint
T(0.1)=90.4C. At the end T(0.2)=87.3C.
Therefore, it should not be safe to touch the end of the handle
Example (cont.)
The total heat transfer through the handle can be calculated also.
q
f
=Mtanh(mL)=8.325*tanh(3.138*0.2)=4.632(W)
Very small amount: latent heat of evaporation for water: 2257 kJ/kg. Therefore, the
amount of heat loss is just enough to vaporize 0.007 kg of water in one hour.

If a stainless steel handle is used instead, what will happen:
For a stainless steel, the thermal conductivity k=15 W/mC.
Use the same parameter as before:
0281 . 0 , 47 . 12
2 / 1
= = =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
C
C
hPkA M
kA
hP
m
Example (cont.)
)] ( 47 . 12 cosh[ 3 . 12 25 ) (
cosh
) ( cosh ) (
x L x T
mL
x L m
T T
T x T
b
+ =

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2

0
25
50
75
100
T x ( )
x
Temperature at the handle (x=0.2 m) is only 37.3 C, not hot at all. This example
illustrates the important role played by the thermal conductivity of the material in terms
of conductive heat transfer.
Fin Equation
Solutions (Table 3.4):
Base (x = 0) condition
( ) 0
b b
T T u u

=
Tip ( x = L) conditions
( ) A. : Conve ti | c on /
x L
kd dx h L u u
=
=
B. : A / | diabati 0 c
x L
d dx u
=
=
( ) Fixed temper C. : ature
L
L u u =
( ) D. ( I >2.65): 0 nfinite fin mL L u =
Fin Heat Rate:
( )
0
|
f
f c x A s
d
q kA h x dA
dx
u
u
=
= =
}
Performance Parameters
Fin Performance Parameters
Fin Efficiency:
, max
f f
f
f f b
q q
q hA
q
u
=
(3.86)
How is the efficiency affected by the thermal conductivity of the fin?
Expressions for are provided in Table 3.5 for common geometries.
f
q
( )
1/ 2
2
2
2 / 2
f
A w L t
(
= +

( ) / 2
p
A t L =
( )
( )
1
0
2
1
2
f
I mL
mL I mL
q =
Fin Effectiveness:
Consider a triangular fin:
,
f
f
c b b
q
hA
c
u

Fin Resistance:
with , and /
f c
h k A P c | + | +
(3.85)
,
1
b
t f
f f f
R
q hA
u
q
=
(3.92)
Arrays
Fin Arrays
Representative arrays of
(a) rectangular and
(b) annular fins.
Total surface area:
t f b
A NA A = +
(3.99)
Number of fins Area of exposed base (prime surface)
Total heat rate:
,
b
t f f b b b o t b
t o
q N hA hA hA
R
u
q u u q u = + =
(3.101)
Overall surface efficiency and resistance:
,
1
b
t o
t o t
R
q hA
u
q
= =
(3.103)
( )
1 1
f
o f
t
NA
A
q q =
(3.102)
Arrays (Cont.)
Equivalent Thermal Circuit :
Effect of Surface Contact Resistance:
( )
( ) ,
b
t t b o c
t o c
q hA
R
u
q u = =
( )
1
1 1
f f
o c
t
NA
A C
q
q
| |
=
|
\ .
(3.105a)
( )
1 , ,
1 /
f f t c c b
C hA R A q '' = +
(3.105b)
( )
( )
,
1
t o c
t o c
R
hA q
=
(3.104)
Problem: Turbine Blade Cooling
Problem 3.116: Assessment of cooling scheme for gas turbine blade.
Determination of whether blade temperatures are less
than the maximum allowable value (1050 C) for
prescribed operating conditions and evaluation of blade
cooling rate.
Assumptions: (1) One-dimensional, steady-state conduction in blade, (2) Constant k, (3)
Adiabatic blade tip, (4) Negligible radiation.
Analysis: Conditions in the blade are determined by Case B of Table 3.4.
(a) With the maximum temperature existing at x=L, Eq. 3.75 yields
Schematic:
( ) 1
cosh
b
T L T
T T mL

( )
( )
1/ 2
1/ 2 2 -4 2
/ 250W/m K0.11m/20W/mK610 m
c
m hP kA = =
= 47.87 m
-1

mL = 47.87 m
-1
0.05 m = 2.39
From Table B.1, . Hence, cosh 5.51 mL =
and, subject to the assumption of an adiabatic tip, the operating conditions are acceptable.
Eq. 3.76 and Table B.1 yield
Hence,
Comments: Radiation losses from the blade surface contribute to reducing the blade
temperatures, but what is the effect of assuming an adiabatic tip condition? Calculate
the tip temperature allowing for convection from the gas.
( ) 1200 300 1200 5 51 1037 = + = T L C ( ) C/ . C
(b) With ( )
( ) ( )
1/ 2
2 -4 2 1/ 2
250W/m K0.11m20W/mK610 m 900 -517W
c b
M hPkA C = O = = ,
( )
f
q MtanhmL 517W 0.983 508W = = =
b f
q q 508W = =
Problem: Turbine Blade Cooling (cont.)
Problem: Chip Heat Sink
Problem 3.132: Determination of maximum allowable power for a 20mm
x 20mm electronic chip whose temperature is not to exceed
when the chip is attached to an air-cooled heat sink
with N=11 fins of prescribed dimensions.

c
q
85 C,
c
T =
T = 20 C
o
oo
Air
k = 180 W/m-K
T = 85 C
c
o
t,c
R = 2x10 m -K/W
-6 2
h = 100 W/m -K
2
L = 15 mm
f
L = 3 mm
b
W = 20 mm
S o = 1.8 mm
t T
c
q
c
R
t,c
R
t,b
R
t,o
T
oo
Schematic:
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.
Analysis: (a) From the thermal circuit,
c c
c
tot t,c t,b t,o
T T T T
q
R R R R


= =
+ +
( )
2 6 2 2
t,c t,c
R R / W 2 10 m K/ W/ 0.02m 0.005 K/ W

''
= = =
( )
2
t, b b
R L / k W =
( ) W/ m K
2
0.003m/ 180 0.02m 0.042 K/ W = =
From Eqs. (3.103), (3.102), and (3.99)
( )
f
t,o o f t f b
o t t
NA 1
R , 1 1 , A NA A
h A A
= = = + q q
q
A
f
= 2WL
f
= 2 0.02m 0.015m = 6 10
-4
m
2

A
b
= W
2
N(tW) = (0.02m)
2
11(0.182 10
-3
m 0.02m) = 3.6 10
-4
m
2

With mL
f
= (2h/kt)
1/2
L
f
= (200 W/m
2
K/180 W/mK 0.182 10
-3
m)
1/2
(0.015m) =
1.17, tanh mL
f
= 0.824 and Eq. (3.87) yields
f
f
f
tanh mL 0.824
0.704
mL 1.17
= = = q
A
t
= 6.96 10
-3
m
2

q
o
= 0.719,
R
t,o
= 2.00 K/W, and

( )
( )
c
85 20 C
q 31.8 W
0.005 0.042 2.00 K/ W

= =
+ +
Problem: Chip Heat Sink (cont.)
Comments: The heat sink significantly increases the allowable heat dissipation. If it
were not used and heat was simply transferred by convection from the surface of the chip with
from Part (a) would be replaced by
2
tot
100 W/m gK,R =2.05 K/W h =
2
1/ hW 25 K/W, yielding 2.60 W.
cnv c
R q = = =
Problem: Chip Heat Sink (cont.)