SAMPLE EXAMPLES ON FINS

EXAMPLE 1 :

An aluminum fin (k = 200 W/m ˚C) 3.0 mm thick, 1 m width and 7.5 cm long
protrudes from a wall. The base is maintained at 300 ˚C, and the ambient
temperature is 50˚C with h = 10 W/m2 ˚C. Calculate

(i) the heat loss from the fin assuming that heat loss takes place from the
tip of the fin also.

Solution:-

Assumptions: This corresponds to case,

where heat transfer takes place from fin
tip. So, we assume the length of fin to be
extended to Lc and then consider heat
transfer for insulated fin tip.

Lc = L + t/2 = 7.5 + 0.15 = 7.65 cm.

a=
√ hp
k Ac
=
√ h∗2∗(w+t)
k∗w∗t
=

√ 2∗10∗(1+0.003)
200∗1∗0.003

= 5.78 cm-1.

Now, the heat loss from an insulated fin tip is represented as,

Q= √ h p k A c ¿Tb - T∞) tanh aLc

Q= √ 10∗2∗(1+ 0.003 )∗200∗1∗0.003 ¿300 - 50) tanh (5.78 * 0.0765)

Q = 867.32 * tanh (5.78 * 0.0765)

Q = 360.32 W

EXAMPLE 2 :

Consider a very long rectangular fin attached to a flat surface such that the
temperature at the end of the fin is essentially that of the surrounding air i.e.
20˚C. Its width is 5.0 cm, thickness is 1.0mm, thermal conductivity is 200 W/m K
and base temperature is 40 ˚C. The heat transfer coefficient is 20 W/m 2 K.
Estimate

(i) fin temperature at the

distance of 5.0 cm from
the base
(ii) the rate of heat loss
from the entire fin

Solution:
Assumptions :- (i) infinitely long
fin.

Given data:
T∞ = 20 ˚C.
Tb= 40 ˚C.
w = 0.05 m
t = 0.001 m
h = 20 W/m2 K
k =200 W/m K

for infinitely long fin,

(I) T(x) = T∞ + (Tb-T∞) e-ax

 Now, a =
√ hP
kAc
=
√20∗2∗(0.05+ 0.001)
200∗0.05∗0.001
= 14.28 m-1

So, T(0.05) = T∞ + (Tb-T∞) e-ax

= 20 + (40 – 20) e-14.28 * 0.05 = 29.79˚C

(II) Q ̇ =¿ k AC a (Tb - T∞)

= 200 * (0.05 * 0.001) * 14.28 * (40 -20)

= 2.856 W

EXAMPLE 3

A 4 mm diameter and 10 cm
long aluminum fin (k=237 W/m
C) is attached to a surface. If
heat transfer coefficient is 12
W / m2 C. Determine rate of
heat transfer for,
(I) Infinitely long fin
(II) Fin with adiabetic fin
tip (negligible heat loss from fin tip)
(III) Determine the percentage error when infinitely long fin assumption is
used instead of adiabetic fin tip assumption.

Solution:

Given data:
d = 0.004 m
L = 0.10 m
K = 237 W/m C
h = 12 W / m2 C

√
12∗∏ ¿ 0.004
a=
√ hP
kAc
= ❑
237∗∏ ∗¿ 0.004∗0.004
4
¿ = 7.12 m-1
(i) Q ̇ 1=¿ k AC a (TB - T∞)

= 237 * ∏ / 4 * 0.004 * 0.004 *7.12 *(80 – 22)

= 1.229 W

(II) Q 2=√ h p k A c ¿ Tb - T∞) tanh aL

√
= 12∗∏ ¿
0.004∗237∗∏ ❑
4
∗0.004∗0.004 ¿80 - 22) tanh (7.12*0.1)

= 1.23 * tanh (0.712)

= 0.7526 W

(III) Percentage error :

(Q1 – Q2) / Q2 * 100 = (1.229 – 0.7526) / 0.7526 * 100
= 47.64 %
EXAMPLE 4:

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 25C,
and the convection coefficient is 5 W/m2 C. Question: Find the temperature at
the centre of the handle. Also,can you touch the handle when the water is
boiling ? (k for aluminum is 237 W/m C)

T = 25 C
h = 5 W/ m2 C

100 C
Assume :- Negligible heat loss from the fin tip.

Solution:-
Given data:
h=5 W/ m2 C
k=237 W/m C
T∞ = 25 ˚C.
Tb= 100 ˚C.
L =0.2 M

We can model the pot handle as an extended surface.

P=2(w + t) = 2(0.03+0.005) = 0.07m,

AC=w * t = 0.00015 m2

So, a = √(hP/kA c)= 3.138 m-1

Now,

T(x) = 25 + 62.32 cosh(3.138(0.2 * x))

T(0.1) = 90.4 ˚C

T(0.2) = 87.3 ˚C

Temperature drops off very quickly. At the midpoint

T(0.1)=90.4C.

At the end T(0.2)=87.3C.

Therefore, it should not be safe to touch the end of the handle

EXAMPLE 5 :

Repeat the above example considering for the handle to be of stainless steel
having thermal conductivity k = 15 W/m°C. Find the difference.