Heat Transfer

Heat transfer of fined surfaces

1. Description of the problem
Steam from a heating system flows through tubes whose outer diameter is D1 = 5 cm and
whose walls are maintained at Tb = 180°C. Circular fins of thermal conductivity k [W/m. °C],
outer diameter D2 and constant thickness t are attached to the tube as shown in the figure.
The spacing between the fins is S and, therefore, there are n fins per meter of tube length.
Heat is transferred to the surrounding air which is at ∞ = 25°C, with a combined heat transfer
coefficient of 40 W/m2. °C.

Determine the increase in heat transfer of the tube per meter length as a result of the addition
of the fins. Also, determine the total effectiveness of the finned tube. For the calculation of the
fin efficiency, use the analytical method (expression in Table 3.3) and the graphical method,
determining the error made with the graphical method.
The values for the variables are given in the following table for each equipment.
 Table. Variables for finned surface analysis.

Solution
Assumptions: For the fin analysis, the following assumptions are made:
- Stationary operation, does not vary with time.
- No heat generation in the fin
- Thermal conductivity of the material K is constant.
- Convective heat transfer coefficient h, is constant and uniform over the entire fin surface.
Procedures:
We have the following data, given in the problem:
To find the Qaument we must first find the Qtotal and the Qsinaletas
Qaumento=Qtotal – Qsinaletas
We first find the Qsinaletas, where:

Qsinaletas=h∗Asinaletas∗(Tb−T ∞)
Asinaletas=π∗D∗L
2
Asinaletas=π∗0 ,05∗1=0,15708 m
Qsinaletas=40∗0.15708∗( 180−25 )=973 , 9W =974 W
Then we find the Qtotal, where:

Qtotal=N (QAleta +Qlibre )

QAleta=n∗h∗Aaleta(Tb−T ∞)
Below is efficiency by the graphic method
t
r 2 c =r 2 + =0.03+0.0005=0.0305 m
2
t
Lc =l+ =0.005+0.0005=0.0055 m
2
L=r 2−r 1=3−2.5=0.005 m
−6
Ap=Lc∗t=0.0055∗0.001=5.5 x 10 m
r 2 c 0.0305
= =1 , 22
r 1 0.025
Obtaining this data we apply the following formula:

( )
1
3 /2 40
E=0.0055 ∗ −6
2
=0.11
100∗5.5 x 10
Based on these calculations and the graph, an efficiency of 98% can be taken
We found the Aaleta

Aaletas=2 π ( r 2 c 2−r 12 )

Aaletas=2 π ( 0.03052−0.025 2 )=1.918 x 10−3 m2

We replace these values found in:

QAleta=n∗h∗Aaleta(Tb−T ∞)
−3
QAleta=0.98∗40∗1.918 x 10 ( 180−25 )=11.65 W
We found the Qlibrealetas

Qlibre=h∗Alibrealetas∗(Tb−T ∞)
Alibrealetas=π∗D 1∗s
−4 2
Alibrealetas=π∗0.05∗0.003=4.712 x 10 m
−4
Qlibre=40∗4.712 x 10 ∗( 180−25 )=2.92 W
We found the Qaument and effectiveness

Qtotal=N (QAleta +Qlibre )

Qtotal=250 ( 11.65+2.92 ) =3642.5W
Qaumento=Qtotal – Qsinaletas
Qaumento=3642.5 – 974=2668.5 W
Qtotal
Efectvidad =
Qsinaletas
 3642.5
Efectvidad = =3.74
974

For our second case, we calculate the efficiency by means of formula

Applying these formulae:

t
r 2 c =r 2 + =0.03+0.0005=0.0305 m
2

Aaletas=2 π ( 0.03052−0.025 2 )=1.918 x 10−3 m2

m= √ 2 h/kt=
√ 2∗40
100∗0.001
=28.2842
 2∗r 1 2∗0.025
m 28.2842
C 2= 2 2
= 2 2
=5.791
r 2c −r 1 0.0305 −0.025
Using the formula an efficiency of 0.99 is calculated

We replace these values found in:

QAleta=n∗h∗Aaleta(Tb−T ∞)
−3
QAleta=0.99∗40∗1.918 x 10 ( 180−25 )=11.78W
We found the Qlibrealetas

Qlibre=h∗Alibrealetas∗(Tb−T ∞)
Alibrealetas=π∗D 1∗s
−4 2
Alibrealetas=π∗0.05∗0.003=4.712 x 10 m
−4
Qlibre=40∗4.712 x 10 ∗( 180−25 )=2.92 W
We found the Qaument and effectiveness

Qtotal=N (QAleta +Qlibre )

Qtotal=250 ( 11.78+2.92 ) =3677 W
Qaumento=Qtotal – Qsinaletas
Qaumento=3677 – 974=2703 W
Qtotal
Efectvidad =
Qsinaletas
3677
Efectvidad = =3.77
974
 ValorAnalitico−Valorgrafico 2703−2668.5
Error Relativo= = ∗100 %=1.27 %
ValorAnalitico 2703

Conclusions:
Based on this solution of the problem we can conclude the following:
- When fins are applied to a surface, a large increase in heat transfer can be observed.
- The graphical method and the analytical method have very approximate values to give the
solution to a problem by the topic of efficiencies
- The results clearly show the importance of the fins in heat transfer.
References:
For the development of this exercise it was necessary, the presentations and classes given by the
teacher, it was made use of the tool Word and Excel that is where the information of images, tables
and formulas were taken.