ChE 314

Heat Transfer
Winter 2021

Assignment 2
Due on Mon. Mar. 8, 18:00 by eClass

This assignment is individual. Submissions must include title, author, statement of each problem,
and solution. Sections such as Introduction, Discussion, Conclusions, etc., are not necessary. All
calculations must include the equation used. All values of materials and parameters used must be
included in a table or just below the equation used. The assignment, including equations and
figures must be written and drawn clearly. The submission format is as a .pdf file.
1. A very long rod (i.e., a fin) has one end at the base plate at a constant temperature, Tb. The
fin itself is exposed to moving ambient air at a constant temperature of T inf, generating a
convection coefficient of h. The fin has a given length L and a diameter D (where L >> D),
and has a thermal conductivity k.

The following assumptions can be made with regards to the fin:

• The effects of radiation heat losses are negligible.
• The fin and the air around it have constant material properties (i.e. no change with time or
space)
• L >> D, so we can assume the length of the fin is infinitely long with respect to the
diameter.

1.a Determine the temperature distribution equation and the heat loss equation through the
fin. Assume that the system is operating at steady state in one dimension.

2
2. Fins of different shapes (pin, straight, flared etc.) are commonly used as heat sinks to transfer
heat from electronics such as processors and graphics cards, and also from mechanical
components such as motorcycle engines, and fuel cells. As a heat transfer engineer, you are
in charge of designing a heat sink for a very simple processor. The heat sinks should employ
pin shaped fins as shown in the figures below:

The base of the heat sink will be firmly placed on the processor. The processor when operating
under some load generates a constant heat of 20 W. The fin has a diameter D = 1.8 mm, and a
length L = L(x). Furthermore, the fins can be made of alloys of copper, aluminium or steel. The
thermal conductivities of the three metal alloys are given below:

Material Conductivity, k, (Wm-1K-1)

Copper alloy 240
Aluminium alloy 130
Steel 50

The fins would be subjected to moving air at a temperature of 25°C, generating a heat transfer
coefficient of 170 Wm-2K-1. It is important to note that the processor can only operate if its
temperature is below 70°C.

2.a Using the materials provided three heat sinks are manufactured (one using each
material). Of the three which heat sink should be chosen?

2.b What should the length of the fins be in each heat sink?

2.c Plot a graph (on Excel or MATLAB) showing the temperature distribution along the
length of the fin.