Heat Transfer from Finned Surfaces

Temperature gradient dT/dx,

Surface temperature, T,
Are expressed such that T is a function of x only.
Newtons law of cooling

Q&conv hAs Ts T
Two ways to increase the rate of heat transfer:
increasing the heat transfer coefficient,
increase the surface area fins
Fins are the topic of this section.

Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer

A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition,
McGraw Hill 2007.
Heat transfer from extended
surfaces
For constant cross section and constant thermal conductivity
d 2
2
m 2
0 (A)
dx
Where
hp
T T ; m 2 ; A Ac
kAc
Equation (A) is a linear, homogeneous, second-order
differential equation with constant coefficients.
The general solution of Eq. (A) is

( x) C1e mx C2e mx (B)

C1 and C2 are constants whose values are to be determined
from the boundary conditions at the base and at the tip of
the fin.
 Boundary Conditions
Several boundary conditions are typically employed:
At the fin base
Specified temperature boundary condition, expressed
as: (0)= b= Tb-T
At the fin tip
1. Specified temperature
2. Infinitely Long Fin
3. Adiabatic tip
4. Convection (and
combined convection).
Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer
A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition,
McGraw Hill 2007.
How to derive the functional dependence of
for a straight fin with variable cross section area
Ac = A = A(x)?
General Solution for Straight Fin with Three Different Boundary Conditions
In set(a)
Known temperature at x = L
In set(b)
Temperature gradient is zero at x = L
In set(c)
Heat flow to the end of an extended surface by conduction be
equal to that leaving this position by convection.
Detailed Derivation for Equations 17-36 (Case a).
Courtesy by CN3 Yeong Sai Hooi 2002-2003
Detailed Derivation for Equations 17-38 (Case b
for extended surface heat transfer). Courtesy by
CN3 Yeong Sai Hooi, 2002-2003
Detailed Derivation for Equations 17-40 (Case c for extended surface
heat transfer).
Courtesy by all CN4 students, presented by Loo Huiyun, 2002-2003
Detailed Derivation for Equations 17-46 (Case c for extended surface
heat transfer).
Courtesy by all CN4 students, presented by Loo Huiyun, 2002-2003
 Infinitely Long Fin (Tfin tip=T) Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer
A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition, McGraw Hill 2007.

For a sufficiently long fin the temperature at the fin

tip approaches the ambient temperature
Boundary condition: (L)=T(L)-T=0
When x so does emx
C1=0
@ x=0: emx=1 C2= b
The temperature distribution:
T ( x) T x
e mx e
hp / kAc

Tb T

heat transfer from the entire fin

dT
&
Q kAc hpkAc Tb T
dx x 0
 Fin Efficiency Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer
A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition, McGraw Hill 2007.

To maximize the heat transfer from a fin the

temperature of the fin should be uniform (maximized)
at the base value of Tb
In reality, the temperature drops along the fin, and thus
the heat transfer from the fin is less
To account for the effect we define
a fin efficiency
Q&fin Actual heat transfer rate from the fin
fin &
Q
fin ,max Ideal heat transfer rate from the fin
if the entire fin were at base temperature

or Q&fin finQ&fin ,max fin hAfin (Tb T )

 Fin Efficiency Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer
A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition, McGraw Hill 2007.

For constant cross section of very long fins:

Q&fin hpkAc Tb T 1 kAc 1
long , fin
Q&fin ,max hAfin Tb T L hp mL

For constant cross section with adiabatic tip:

Q&fin hpkAc Tb T tanh mL
adiabatic , fin
Q& fin ,max hAfin Tb T
tanh mL
Afin = P*L
mL
 Fin Effectiveness Adapted from Heat and Mass Transfer
A Practical Approach, Y.A. Cengel, Third Edition, McGraw Hill 2007.

The performance of the fins is judged on the basis of the

enhancement in heat transfer relative to the no-fin case.
The performance of fins is expressed
in terms of the fin effectiveness fin
defined as Heat transfer rate
from the fin of base
Q&fin Q&fin area Ab
fin &
Qno fin hAb Tb T Heat transfer rate
from the surface
of area Ab
 Governing Differential Equation for Circular Fin:
Temperature variation in the R (radial) direction only!
T = T(r)
(RL-Ro)
Problem: Water and air are separated by a mild-steel plane wall. I is
proposed to increase the heat-transfer rate between these fluids by
adding Straight rectangular fins of 1.27mm thickness, and 2.5-cm
length, spaced 1.27 cm apart.
 Two and Three - Dimensional
Systems
Analytical Solution
Analytical solution to any transfer problem must satisfy the
differential equation
describing the process
Prescribed boundary conditions
The steady-state temperature distribution in the plate of constant
thermal conductivity must satisfy the differential equation
We obtain an expression in which the variables are separated
(17-57)
Detailed Derivation for Equations 17-57

Courtesy by all CN6 Leow Sheue Ling, 2003-2004