DESIGN AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF FINS WITH

DIFFERENT CROSS-SECTIONS

Guided by
Mr. M. PARVATEESAM
M Tech

K CHINNODU DORA 196H5A0301

L. SINDHU SAI 196H5A0307
K.PRUDHVI 196H5A0320
CH. MANIKANTA 196H5A0310
S. SATISH 196H5A0325
ABSTRACT

⮚ Fins are employed for the purpose of enhancing heat transfer from the base of
the component.

⮚ my work is started with the heat transfer rate and performance evolution for
uniform cross-sectional of rectangular, triangular and circular fin was done
by transient analysis.

⮚ The necessary numerical equations were derived by applying energy balance.

Obtained results were compared with standard results.

⮚ Variation of temperature over the surface of the fin is assumed to be in one

dimension only.

⮚ The equations were checked for natural convection.

⮚ Stability criteria were obtained for different boundary conditions.

ABSTRACT

⮚ Steady state analysis eliminates the influence of temperature increase when

subjected to constant heat flow.

⮚ This condition was considered, and calculations were done for nodes as well as

the complete system.

⮚ The performance parameters for extended surfaces such as effectiveness and

efficiency also vary from steady state to transient state.

⮚ In this context the energy balance for fin was made at macro and micro levels

i.e., by finite difference method employing nodes and overall energy balance.
ABSTRACT

⮚ It is familiar that the purpose of fins is to transfer the heat from the

respective heated component to the Surrounding atmosphere.

⮚ The applications of fins are extended to thermal as well as to

electrical Applications such as transformers in substations, circuit

boards, heat sinks, heat exchangers, hydrogen Fuel cells, etc.

⮚ All these above applications are mostly influenced by the convective

heat transfer Coefficient and effectiveness of the fin.

⮚ surface varies with time longitudinally, after a very long time it

achieves steady state.

ABSTRACT

⮚ During calculation of Efficiency and effectiveness of the fins, the

convective heat transfer coefficient is assumed to be Constant

throughout the surface, but the known fact is that it alters along the

surface as well as with Time (temporal variation).

⮚ As the base is subjected to constant heat flux but the temperature

(temp.) on The surface varies with time longitudinally, after a very

long time it achieves steady state.

THE OBJECTIVES OF GIVEN PROJECT CAN BE LISTED
AS

⮚ To carry out study on the rectangular fins, circular fins and equilateral
triangles and its analysis for natural convection.

⮚ To study influence of different geometry and dimensions on heat transfer

rate.

⮚ To determine the type of geometry and its dimensions for optimum heat
transfer rate.

⮚ This module will calculate minimum material for maximum heat transfer
and Convective heat transfer coefficient.
INTRODUCTION
Heat transfer is a phenomenon of transfer of energy on account of
temperature difference. This phenomenon plays an important role in cooling the
engines in automobiles.
The two majorly used cooling systems are
(i) Cooling system using air.
(ii) Cooling system using water.

Cooling system using air are preferred in small vehicles because of its advantages
like,
1) It is cheaper to manufacture as its design is uncomplicated.
2) It is lighter in weight than engines using cooling system with water, as it
requires no water jackets, radiator, Pump for circulating and the cooling water
weight. The three ways in which heat is transferred are
Conduction.
Convection.
Radiation.
In the present analysis the convective heat transfer is taken into account.

Convection = h*A*(Ts-T∞)

Where, h = convective heat transfer coefficient,

Ts = Temperature of hot surface ,
T∞= Surrounding temperature ,
A = area of contact or exposure
From the above expression it is clear that the convective heat transfer rate
can be increased by increasing

Temperature difference (Ts-T∞)

Convection heat transfer coefficient
Area of exposure
To increase h
THE METHODOLOGY FOLLOWED IN THE PRESENT WORK IS GIVEN IN FLOW CHART

WORK FLOW OF THE PROJECT

FIN EQUATION
Under steady state conditions

the energy balance on this volume element can be expressed as

Or
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑥=𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑,𝑥+∆𝑥+𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣
 Where
After applying a boundary conditions the given energy balance equation is
converted in to the second order differential equation

Where

the general solution of the differential equation Equation is

(𝒙)=𝑪𝟏𝒆𝒎𝒙+𝑪𝟐𝒆−𝒎𝒙

𝜃(0)=𝜃(𝑏)=𝑇𝑏-𝑇∞ boundary condition at fin base

we consider each case separately:
Temperature distribution and heat transfer rate of the given fin:
⮚ Infinitely Long Fin( T= 𝑇∞)

⮚ Negligible Heat Loss from the Fin Tip (Insulated fin tip)

⮚ Convection (or Combined Convection and Radiation) from

Fin Tip:
SELECTION OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS
The fins should be made up of such materials which have following
properties:
⮚It should have high thermal conductivity
⮚It should have low specific heat capacity

⮚Relatively cheap and easily machined

⮚Must be having low density

We have chosen four different materials which satisfies most of the desired
properties which mentioned above.
(i) Gray cast iron:

Gray cast iron is best material which satisfies most of the desirable
properties. It is generally used for making engine block because of its ability of
dimensional stability under heating or thermal stress.
(ii) Aluminum (Al) alloy 6061 and Aluminum alloy 356:
They are most widely used non-ferrous metals.

They over following advantages:

⮚Low specific gravity.
⮚Ease of fabrication.
⮚Corrosion resistance.
⮚High thermal conductivity.

(iii) Copper alloys:

Copper possesses excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. It can be easily cast,
machined and brazed. It has good corrosion resistance; but has poor strength. So it
can be alloyed with zinc in various proportions for making substance according to
the need of application.
THERMO PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS
MATERIALS
CASE 1:HEAR TRANSFER THROUGH FINS AND TEMPERATURE AT
THE TIP OF THE FIN WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND
RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTIONS
🞆 

K1=gray castiron,k2=al alloy-6061,al alloy-356,k4=brass C37700

CASE 2:HEAR TRANSFER THROUGH FINS AND TEMPERATURE AT THE TIP OF THE
FIN WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND CIRCULAR CROSS SECTIONS

🞆 

K1=gray castiron,k2=al alloy-6061,al alloy-356,k4=brass C37700

CASE 3:HEAT TRANSFER THROUGH FINS AND TEMPERATURE AT THE TIP OF
THE FIN WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND CIRCULAR CROSS SECTIONS
🞆 

K1=gray castiron,k2=al alloy-6061,al alloy-356,k4=brass C37700

THEORETICAL RESULTS:
Heat transfer through fins
Materials Thermal conductivity w
Sl no
  K=w/m k CROSS SECTION
Temperature distribution 0c

1.16
RECTANGLE
98.5
0.35
1 Gray cast iron 52 CIRCLE
99.2
0.081
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
99.1
1.28
RECTANGLE
98.1
0.41
2 Al alloy -6061 155.12 CIRCLE
98.3
0.095
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
98.6
1.33
RECTANGLE
98.02
0.47
3 Al alloy -356 158.75 CIRCLE
98.1
0.1
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
98.4
1.21
RECTANGLE
98.3
0.38
4 Brass c37700 107.66 CIRCLE
99.1
0.087
EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE
99
GRAPHS:

N(52
)
10 7.66) 55.12) 58.75
)
IRO 700 ( 6 1 ( 1 6 ( 1
YC AS T C 3 7 loy-6 0
oy-3 5
GRA bras s Al al al all
WEIGHTED POINT METHOD:
The weighted point method is a recent technique developed for selection of material.

The method consists of different steps;

First step consist of study of application and preparing list of material for that
application. So we have chosen four different materials for comparison. The desirable
properties then assigned some values according to their importance.

We have selected five properties as influencers and their value is mentioned in respective
bracket.

(i) Thermal conductivity, k (5)

(ii) Thermal diffusivity, α (4)

(iii) Cost (3)

(iv) Density, ρ (2)

(v) Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (1)

WEIGHTED POINT METHOD:
The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity have
given more weighted (value) that is 5 and 4 respectively because
fins should be made up of materials having better thermal
properties.

Cost is also a main influencer in material selection, so it

has given value 3. The fins should be of lighter weight so we
have given some importance to density also. Similarly we have
calculated the value of each material and the materials which
have higher weight (value) is to be selected and other materials
should be given priorities according to their total value.
TOTAL POINTS FOR EACH MATERIAL BY USING
WEIGHTED POINT METHOD
Table gives data of total points for each material by using weighted point method.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION

THE FIN OBTAINED FROM NATURAL CONVECTION OF A

SOUND SYSTEM IS TAKEN AS REFERENCE FIN AND THE
ANALYSIS IS DONE BY KEEPING THE AMBIENT
TEMPERATURE CONSTANT AS 27°C AND MAINTAINING THE
BASTE TEMPERATURE AS A 100 DEGREE WITH A CONSTANT
HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENT FOLLOWED BY THE VARYING
CROSS RESULTS SO OBTAINED FOR THE ABOVE 3 CASES ARE
GIVEN BELOW IN THE TABLE
TABLE: THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, CROSS SECTIONS AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS WITH HEAT
TRANSFER RATE AND TEMPERATURE GRADIENT.