ISSN 2321 3361 © 2019 IJESC

Research Article Volume 9 Issue No.9

Analysis of Heat Transfer Phenomena from Different Fin

Geometries using CFD Simulation in ANSYS®
Ambuj Gupta1, Ayushi Gaur2
School of Chemical Engineering (SCHEME), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India

Abstract:
Heat transfer has always been one of the dominating fields in design of electrical components, chemical reaction vessels,
apparatus, heat exchangers, insulation materials etc. In various applications, it is necessary to prevent loss of heat, whereas in
some, it is crucial to dissipate excess heat quickly into the surrounding atmosphere to prevent overheating. Finned surfaces
provide additional support to facilitate faster heat transfer and thus act as efficient heat sinks. In this study, we aim to simulate the
heat transfer phenomena through various finned surfaces of different geometries and material using ANSYS Workbench ®, to
better understand the factors affecting heat transfer along the length of the fin. The fins were designed in the ANSYS Workbench
environment, keeping the total exposed surface area constant. The models were rendered and subjected to simulation, with
varying operating conditions and parameters. The results are compiled and tabulated in this study. For this experiment, Pin Fin,
Plate Fin and Elliptical Pin fin geometries have been used, and simulated in ANSYS 2016 ® CFD interface.

Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Heat Sink, Pin Fin, Plate Fin, Elliptical Pin Fin.

1. 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.With the increase in heat dissipation
from microelectronics devices and the reduction in overall
form factors, thermal management becomes a more important
element of electronic product design. Both the performance
reliability and life expectancy of electronic equipment are
inversely related to the component temperature of the
equipment. The effective use of an electrical component is
limited by its maximum operational junction temperature. To
achieve a desired component temperature, excess heat
dissipated by the device must be transferred to the
environment. The most common method for transferring heat
from the component to the environment is to use a heat sink.
To estimate a component’s junction temperature, a required
value is the heat sink’s thermal resistance. The thermal
resistance of heat sink can be determined analytically or
experimentally. In electronic systems, a heat sink is a passive
component that cools a device by dissipating heat into the
surrounding air. 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.
• Radiators in cars: The thin fins of a radiator improve the
surface area of the device, thereby improving the heat
conduction of coolants within. While the car is moving, the air
is directed through the radiator, which in turn cools the liquid
within.
• Computer CPU heatsinks: The heat sink has a thermal
conductor that carries heat away from the CPU into fins that
provide a large surface area for the heat to dissipate throughout
the rest of the computer, thus cooling both the heat sink and
processor.
• Heat exchangers in power plants: Radial fins are generally
in TENV(Totally Enclosed Non-Ventilated) roller table duty
motors and the purpose of radial fins is to reduce accumulation
of melted iron on the surface of motor.
• Electric motor and transformers: Longitudinal fins in
motor are for natural cooling of motor. In Totally enclosed fan
cooled motors, air of fan passes through the fins to cool the
motor. Radial fins are generally in Totally enclosed non
ventilated roller table duty motors and the purpose of radial
fins is to reduce accumulation of melted iron on the surface of
motor. Fins are surfaces that extend from an object to increase
the rate of heat transfer to or from the environment by
increasing convection and hence are used in hydrogen fuel
cells.
• Fins are used in Evaporators and condensers of
refrigeration and air conditioning systems: The coolant
flows through the pipe, the many thin wires that run between
the pipes acts as simple radiator fins that help to carry heat
away from the pipes and dissipate to atmosphere.
2. CFD MODELLING:
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the science of
determining numerical solution of governing equation for the
fluid flow whilst advancing the solution through space or time
to obtain a numerical description of the complete flow field of
interest. The equation can represent steady or unsteady,
Compressible or Incompressible, and in viscid or viscous
flows, including non-ideal and reacting fluid behaviour. The
particular form chosen depends on intended application. The
state of the art is characterized by the complexity of the
geometry, the flow physics, and the computing time required

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obtaining a solution. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a
computer-based simulation method for analysing fluid flow,
heat transfer, and related phenomena such as chemical
reactions. This dissertation uses CFD for analysis of flow and
heat transfer. It will be advantageous to use CFD over
traditional experimental-based analyses, since experiments
have a cost directly proportional to the number of
configurations desired for testing, unlike with CFD, where
large amounts of results can be produced at practically no
added expense. In this way, parametric studies to optimize
equipment are very inexpensive with CFD when compared to
experiments.
Applications of CFD:
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a tool with amazing
flexibility, accuracy and breadth of application. CFD is applied
to a wide range of research and engineering problems in many
fields of study and industries, including aerodynamics and
aerospace analysis, weather simulation, natural science and
environmental engineering, industrial system design and
analysis, biological engineering and fluid flows, and engine
and combustion analysis. Where there is fluid, there is CFD.
Having mentioned before, the initial stage to conduct a CFD
simulation is specifying an appropriate mathematical model of
reality. Rapprochements and assumptions give direction
through solution processes to examine the case in the
computational domain. For instance, fluid flow over a sphere /
cylinder is a repetitive issue that has been taught by the
lecturer as an example in fluid courses.
3. METHODOLOGY:
In CFD calculations, there are three main steps:
Pre-Processing, Solver Execution, Post-Processing. Pre-
Processing is the step where the modelling goals are
determined and computational grid is created. In the second
step numerical models and boundary conditions are set to start
up the solver. Solver runs until the convergence is reached.
When solver is terminated, the results are examined which is
the post processing part.
Procedure
Step 1: Draw the cylindrical pin fins, elliptical fins, plate fins
in ANSYS Workbench or SpaceClaim 3D Modellers
Step 2: Using the created fins in ANSYS software for further
simulations.
Step 3: Use the data for analysis and calculating efficiency and
other parameters
4. GOVERNING EQUATIONS:
Time-independent flow equations with turbulence are solved.
The viscous dissipation term is omitted. Therefore, the
governing equations for the fluid flow and heat transfer are the
following form of the incompressible continuity equations;
Navier – stokes equations x-y and z direction momentum, and
energy equations together with the equation of state.
Figure.1. Governing equations for Heat transfer through
finned Surfaces
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5. FIN MATERIAL:
Materials used in fins depend on heat transfer characteristics of
the material. The materials generally used are Aluminum Alloy
A204 which has thermal conductivity of 110-150W/mk, and
Aluminum alloy 6061 which has higher thermal conductivity.
Cast iron and copper alloy are also used. As heat exchangers
are used in a wide variety of environments, they require a
range of construction materials. Several different fin material
options exist, allowing the heat exchanger to operate in
environments ranging from mild office applications through to
more aggressive coastal and manufacturing environments.
Three key fin materials are offered: the standard being natural
aluminium, a pre-coated aluminium called “Blue Fin”, and
copper. “Blue fin” offers a further level of resistance to
environmental conditions, with copper offering the best
possible protection.
Natural Aluminium: Natural Aluminium is the standard fin
material used in all Coils Australia heat exchangers due to the
excellent cost/performance combination it provides. When
coated with Standard Finish corrosion protection this provides
a highly cost-effective solution for general operating
conditions. Aluminium alloys have long been used in the
production of heat exchanger fins. The comparative properties
of the different alloys used for this purpose has not been an
issue in the past, because of the significant thickness of the fin
stock material. However, in order to make fins lighter in
weight, there is a growing demand for thinner fin stock
materials, which has emphasized the need for improved
mechanical properties, thermal conductivity and corrosion
resistance.
Blue Fin: Blue Fin is a high performance pre-coated
aluminium fin material. Blue Fin appears as an anodised finish
with a gloss blue tone that remains flexible. The Blue Fin
coating is applied to the raw aluminium fin stock. For harsh
environments that are particularly corrosive to aluminium,
Blue Fin is the solution.
Copper: In applications where the heat exchanger can’t be
easily replaced, it demands that the materials used in the coil
provide the best possible corrosion resistance to maximise
service life. With its superior thermal conductivity, corrosion
resistance and strength compared with aluminium, copper is
the ideal choice for demanding environments. Copper finned
heat exchangers are more suited to environments where
improved thermal performance is required. They are also
suited to more abrasive environments because unlike a pre-
coated fin, a copper finned coil will not wear out and fail. For
the manufacture of welded fin tubes are used non-alloy steels
(e.g. P235) and low alloy steels C-Mo, C-Cr-Mo in grades
15Mo3, 13CrMo4.4, 10CrMo9-10 acc. PN-EN 10216- 2+A2:
2007 and P91. As the material on the fin, is most often used
ferritic steels such as DC01, DC03, DC04 (EN 10130) and
16Mo3 (EN 10028), X2CrTi12 (EN 10088-2). These steels are
weldable steel group.
Table.1. Properties of Fin materials used in Simulation
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6. EFFECT OF SHAPE ON HEAT TRANSFER:
Modern heat exchangers are required to be designed in such a
way that their size is reduced and more compactness is
achieved. For achieving this the heat transfer coefficient must
be increased. When gases are used to transfer heat, high
attention must be given to the surface which transfers heat as
gases have very low Cp. Liquids have heat transfer coefficients
100 times higher than that of the gases. The use of highly
effective fins increases the heat transfer surface area, which
leads to substantial increase in the heat transfer rate.
Conditions for heat transfer: When the pin height to pin
diameter, ratio is less than four these are called short pin fin
arrays. The short pin fin arrays placed inside the flow channel
develop turbulence which enhances the convective heat
transfer rate. Due to this the pin fin material of low thermal
conductivity can also be selected. Circular pin fins face the
limitation of early separation of flow over the fin, increasing
the total pressure drop across the channel. Hence to improve
the integrated heat transfer rate using pin fins the pressure-drop
associated with the fins must be reduced. To reduce the
pressure-drop one can use different shaped of fins and check
on overall heat transfer rate. The main resistance to heat
transfer from a solid surface to a contact fluid is formation of
the velocity boundary layer. Therefore, measures for creating
artificial turbulent boundary layers or reducing the thickness
by breaking the boundary layer are more effective in
increasing the heat transfer coefficient. The assessment of fin
performance depends on the parameter mL. Obviously, this
parameter which accounts for the fluid dynamic and thermal
flow patterns around the fins, fin cross-section, fin length and
fin material, determines the final fin performance. The large
number of variables influencing the parameter ml and hence
the fin performance make the fin design an open-ended
optimization problem.
1) The square pin fin shows least heat transfer rate while it
increases from the circular pin fin to the rectangular pin fin.
2) The square pin fin shows the highest drag coefficient and
the rectangular pin fin shows the least.
3) The drag coefficient reduces with the decreasing axis ratio
N. Sahiti (2005) observed that the elliptical pin had the highest
heat transfer rate with the same geometrical and energy
conditions. The results of the simulation of six different pin
cross-sections show that elliptical profile transfers maximum
heat and also the pressure drop is minimum for the elliptical
profile.
Friction factor for all the fins decreased with the increase
of Re: In the laminar flow regime the triangular shape with
minimum fin density showed the minimum pressure drop
while the elliptical shape with highest fin density had the
maximum pressure drop. Whereas in the turbulent flow the
elliptical shape fins had the minimum pressure drop and the
triangular shaped fins had the maximum pressure drop.
Fengming Wang, Jingzhou Zhang &SuofangWang (2014)
numerically and experimentally simulated the flow and heat
transfer characteristics of differently shaped pin fins. The fins
were of circular, elliptical, and drop-shaped shape with the
same cross-sectional areas were compared by placing them in a
staggered arrangement. The pin fins were embedded in a
rectangular box in a staggered arrangement. The heat transfer
rate is highest for the circular pin fin. The elliptical fin is
second in considering the heat transfer rate. While the square
fins transfer least heat. • Reynolds number plays an important
role in selection of the fin shape. Because at high Reynolds
number the heat transfer rate is similar for circular and
IJESC, September 2019
elliptical shape. Considering the pressure drop the drop shape
due to its aerodynamic advantage shows least pressure drop.
The elliptical pin causes slightly more pressure drop than the
drop shaped fins. Hence, we can conclude that the elliptical pin
fin gives highest overall performance.
7. STATIC FIN TEMPERATURE ANALYSIS:
For the different finned surfaces, we ensured the total exposed
area remained constant throughout the various designs to allow
comparative analysis. The fin dimensions were modelled in
such a way to keep this constant. The fins designed yet are
plate fin and elliptical pin fin for analysis. Thereafter, the
velocity distribution, pressure drop and temperatures at the
mid-plane were simulated using ANSYS software using
FLUENT CFD analysis.
 Number of pin fins: 4
 Number of Elliptical fins: 2
 Number of Plate fins: 3
 Material: Steel
o Density: 8030 kg/m3
o Thermal Conductivity (k): 16.27W/m K
o Specific Heat Cp: 502.48 J/kg K
The exposed finned area was kept constant with area = 88488
mm2 For static analysis, the fins were kept at a constant
temperature of 340K, while the fluid i.e. air was flown at a rate
of 4m/s, at a temperature of 300K from the inlet.Thereafter,
simulation was carried out for 150 iterations at a time step of
0.01s. Following are the results obtained from Static Tin
Temperature Analysis. Calculations were not performed for
these systems. These were used only to visualise the fluid
dynamics and interactions in Forced Convection. The results
obtained are shown in FIGURES (1-15);
8. STEADY STATE HEATED FIN ANALYSIS:
For the different finned surfaces, we ensured the total exposed
area remained constant throughout the various designs to allow
comparative analysis. The fin dimensions were modelled in
such a way to keep this constant. The fins designed yet are
plate fin and elliptical pin fin for analysis. Thereafter, the
velocity distribution, pressure drop and temperatures at the
mid-plane were simulated.
 Number of pin fins: 9
 Number of Elliptical fins: 2
 Number of Plate fins: 2
 Material of fin: Steel
o Density: 8030 kg/m3
o Thermal Conductivity (k): 16.27W/m K
The exposed finned area was kept constant with area =
54816mm2 Foranalysis, the base temperature Tb was kept at a
constant temperature of 1000K, while the fluid i.e. air was
flown at a rate of 4m/s, at a temperature of 298K from the
inlet.Thereafter, simulation was carried out for 200 iterations at
a time step of 0.01s. The results obtained from analysis are
depicted in FIGURES (16-27).
9. RESULTS:
The following results were obtained from analysis and
simulation of Fins at constant base temperature of 1000K as
performed by FLUENT solver in ANSYS. The results are
shown in TABLE 2
10. TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTIONS:
All values are in SI units, with respective units in metric
system. Temperature distribution is calculated, assuming short
fins. The results obtained are shown in TABLES (3-5).
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11. CONCLUSIONS:

 The geometry of finned surface plays an important role in

determining the rate of heat transfer and efficiency of the
heat sink
 The efficiency of the pin fin was calculated using the
correlation for short fin, as obtained from HMT Data Book
(pg. 58, 9th Ed); The correlation states that:
η = cosh [m(L-x)] / cosh (mL)
 The efficiency of heat sink was found to be in the
following order:
Pin fin > Elliptical Pin Fin > Plate Fin
 The temperature distribution along the fin length is
dependent on cross-sectional area and the thermal
Figure.2. Streamlines of air with pin fin at static
conductivity of the finned surface.
temperature
 With constant value of k, it was found that, that heat
transfer was more efficient with lower cross-sectional
areas, as demonstrated by pin fins with a radius of 4mm.
 The variations in results of theoretical and simulated
temperature distribution, can be accounted due to errors in
meshing and other computational discrepancies.
 Although the average error percentage in the simulated
and theoretical results was found to be 4.36%

12. REFERENCES:

[1]. A review on the effect of shape on performance of pin

fins, Ankit Girolla, Sunil.V.Dingare and Pramod.S.Purandare,
International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology
[Accepted 12 March 2017, Available online16 March 2017,
Special Issue-7 (March 2017)]; Retrieved from: http:// inpres Figure.3. Eddy viscosity Distribution of air with pin fin at
sco. com/category/ijcet static temperature

[2]. Numerical Simulations of Heat Transfer Enhancement in

Flowing Fluids using CFD, Arjun Sunil K., Rakesh Kumar.
Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/project/ Numeri
cal -Simulations-of-Heat-Transfer-Enhancement-in-Flowing-
luids

[3]. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer through Fins

with Different Types of Notches, Sathishkumar Kuppuraj K,
Vignesh K., Ugesh N., S. Balamurugan. Retrieved from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314233137_Computa
tional_Analysis_of_Heat_Transfer_through_Fins_with_Differe
nt_Types_of_Notches

13. RESULTS:
Figure.4. Pressure Distribution of air with pin fin at static
temperature
1. Results Obtained from Static Fin Temperature Analysis:
(a) Cylindrical Pin Fins:

Figure.1. Velocity Distribution of air with pin fin at static Figure.5. Temperature Distribution of air with pin fin at
temperature static temperature

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(b) Plate Fins:

Figure.10. Temperature Distribution of air with plate fin at

static temperature

Figure.6. Velocity Distribution of air with plate fin at static (c) EllipticalPin Fins:
temperature

Figure.11. Velocity Distribution of air with Elliptical pin

fin at static temperature
Figure.7. Streamlines of air with plate fin at static
temperature

Figure.8. Pressure Distribution of air with plate fin at static Figure.12. Streamlines of air with Elliptical pin fin at static
temperature temperature

Figure.9. Eddy Viscosity Distribution of air with plate fin Figure.13. Eddy Viscosity Distribution of air with plate fin
at static temperature at static temperature

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 Figure.14. Pressure Distribution of air with plate fin at
static temperature
Figure.18. Velocity Distribution of air with Elliptical pin
fin

Figure.15. Temperature Distribution of air with plate fin at

static temperature

2. Results Obtained from Steady State Heated Fin Figure.19. Streamlines of air with Elliptical pin fin
Analysis:
(b) PlateFins:
(a) EllipticalPin Fins:

Figure.16. Temperature Distribution of air with Elliptical Figure.20. Temperature Distribution of air with Elliptical
pin fin pin fin

Figure.17. Pressure Distribution of air with Elliptical pin

Figure.21. Pressure Distribution of air with Plate fin
fin

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 Figure.22. Velocity Distribution of air with Plate fin Figure.25. Pressure Distribution of air with Cylindrical pin
fin

Figure.23. Streamlines of air with Plate fin Figure.26. Velocity Distribution of air with Cylindrical pin
fin
(c) CylindricalPin Fins:

Figure.24. Temperature Distribution of air with Figure.27. Streamlines of air with Cylindrical pin fin
Cylindrical pin fin
15. Data Tables:
Table.2. Results obtained from Steady State conduction with constant base temperature.
Fin Heat
Total
Velocity Pressure Efficiency Thermal Ambient Base Fin Tip Convective Transfer
Temp.
Geometry of air Drop of fin Conductivity air temp Temp Temp Area Coefficient
drop
(m/s) (Pa) η of fin, k (K) Tb Tend (K) mm2 of air @298
(K)
(K) K
Plate Fin 4 34.8569 64.5013 16.27 298 1000 491.04 508.9592 54816 25
Pin Fin 4 15.2843 91.475 16.27 298 1000 272.6 727.4 54816 25
Elliptical
4 21.64 89.563 16.27 298 1000 285.15 714.852 54816 25
Pin Fin

Table.3. Temperature Distribution in Pin fin

Area
hair ρsteel ksteel Tb Tinf x e-ax Ttheoretical Tsimulated
cross-section
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0 1 847 850.45
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0.04 0.73128 628.3586 626.9386
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0.08 0.534771 490.4089 494.0089
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0.12 0.391067 389.5291 392.6491
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0.16 0.28598 315.7576 319.2576
25 0.02512 204.2 5.02E-05 1000 298 0.2 0.209131 261.81 272.6

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 Table.4. Temperature Distribution In Plate Fin
Area
hair ρsteel ksteel Tb Tinf x e-ax Ttheoretical Tsimulated
cross-section
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0 1 912.6633 910.145
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0.04 0.881625 733.9007 732.4807
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0.08 0.777263 660.6383 664.2383
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0.12 0.685254 596.0483 599.1683
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0.16 0.604137 539.1042 542.6042
25 0.02512 204.2 0.00031 1000 298 0.2 0.532622 488.9008 491.0408

Table.4. Temperature Distribution in Elliptical Pin Fin

hair ρsteel ksteel Across-section Tb Tinf x e-ax Ttheo Tsimulated
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0 1 923 922.452
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0.04 0.615502 653.0821 651.6621
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0.08 0.378842 486.9472 490.5472
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0.12 0.233178 384.6909 387.8109
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0.16 0.143521 321.752 325.252
25 0.02512 204.2 2.09E-05 1000 298 0.2 0.088338 283.013 285.153

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