Heat Transfer from Extended Surfaces

Heat Transfer Enhancement by Fins

Bare surface Finned surface

Typical finned-tube heat exchangers
Straight fin of uniform Straight fin of nonuniform
cross section cross section

Annular fin Pin fin

 Equation for Extended Surfaces
qconv,out
x Ac(x)
dx dAs(x)
qcond,in qcond,out
Tb

T∞, h dx

qcond,in  qcond,out  qconv,out

 qconv,out
Ac(x)
dAs(x)
qcond,in  qcond,out  qconv,out
qcond,in qcond,out
dT
T(x) qcond,in  q x   kAc ( x )
x dx
dx
T∞, h
dT d  dT 
qcond,out  q x dx   kAc ( x )    kAc ( x )  dx
dx dx  dx 
qconv,out  dqconv  hdAs ( x )T ( x )  T 
d  dT 
  kAc ( x )  dx  hdAs ( x ) T ( x )  T   0
dx  dx 

d  dT  dAs
kA ( x )  h T ( x )  T   0
dx  dx 
c 
dx

When k = constant,

d  dT  h dAs
 Ac ( x )   T ( x )  T   0
dx  dx  k dx
Fins of Uniform Cross-Sectional Area
L
P: fin perimeter
Tb
P
T , h Ac(x) = constant,
Ac and dAs = Pdx
dx dAs
x
d  dT  h dAs
 Ac ( x )   T ( x )  T   0
dx  dx  k dx
d 2T hP
2
 T ( x )  T   0
dx kAc
 excess temperature : (x) = T(x) - T∞
d 2T hP
L 2
 T ( x )  T   0
dx kAc
Tb 2
d
T , h T(x)  2 m  0 2

dx dx
x 2 hP
where m 
kAc
 mx mx
 ( x )  C1e  C 2 e  D1 sinh( mx )  D2 cosh( mx )
boundary conditions
at x = 0:
T (0)  Tb   (0)  T (0)  T  Tb  T   b
 L
 ( x )  T ( x )  T
Tb
T , h T(x) at x = L: 3 cases
x dx
1) very long fin (L → ∞):
T ( L)  T   ( )  T  T  0
2) convection tip:
dT d h
k  hT ( L)  T     ( L)  0
dx L dx L k
3) negligible heat loss: adiabatic tip
dT d
k 0  0
dx L dx L
 Temperature distribution
1) long fin:
 ( x)
 e  mx
b
2) convection tip:
 ( x ) cosh m ( L  x )   h / mk  sinh m ( L  x )

b cosh mL   h / mk  sinh mL

3) adiabatic tip:
 ( x ) cosh m( L  x )

b cosh mL
 Total heat loss by the fin
dT
q f   kAc ,b or q f   A h T ( x )  T dA
dx x 0 f

L
1) long fin: Tb P
T , h
q f  hPkAc  b  M
Ac
dx dAs
2) convection tip: x
sinh mL   h / mk  cosh mL
q f  hPkAc  b
cosh mL   h / mk  sinh mL
3) adiabatic tip:
q f  hPkAc  b tanh mL  M tanh mL
Example 3.9 air T  25 C
h  100 W/m 2  K
Tb  100C

k , L   , D  5mm

Find:
1 ) Temperature distribution T(x) and heat loss qf when the fin is con
structed from: a) pure copper, b) 2024 aluminum alloy, and c) ty
pe AISI 316 stainless steel.
2 ) Estimate how long the rods must be for the assumption of infinit
e length to yield an accurate estimate of the heat loss.

Assumption:
very long fin
1) For a very long fin T  25 C
Air h  100 W/m 2  K
Tb  100C
 ( x)  mx T ( x )  T
e 
b Tb  T
k , L   , D  5mm
 T ( x )  T  Tb  T  e  mx

hP 4h   D2 
m   P   D, Ac  
kAc kD  4 

heat loss: q f  hPkAc  b

Tb  T Copper: k = 398 W/m.K
conductivity at T
2 Aluminum alloy: k = 180 W/m.K
Stainless steel: k = 14 W/m.K
qf Copper: 8.3 W

Aluminum alloy: 5.6 W

Stainless steel: 1.6 W

2) For the adiabatic condition at the tip

qf = MtanhmL (long fin: qf = M)

To get an accuracy over 99%

tanh mL  0.99 or mL  2.65

1/ 2
2.65  kA 
L  2.65  c 
m  hP 

Copper: 0.19 m

Aluminum alloy: 0.13 m

Stainless steel: 0.04 m

Fins of Nonuniform Cross-Sectional
Area : Annular Fin
qconv,out
Tb
qcond,out qcond,in
r Ac  2 rt
1
r
r2 dr
t
T∞, h

qcond,in  qcond,out  qconv,out

 qconv,out
Tb
T(r)
qcond,out qcond,in
r Ac  2 rt
1
r
r2 dr dAs  2  2 rdr 
t
T∞, h

dT
qcond,in  qr   k  2 rt 
dr
dT d  dT 
qcond,out  qr dr   k  2 rt     k  2 rt   dr
dr dr  dr 
qconv,out  dqconv  h2  2 rdr T ( r )  T 
 d  dT 
kd 2 rt  dT h  4hdA r sT ( r )  T   0
dr 
dx 
A c ( x
dr) 
 
dx  k dx
T ( x )  T    0
d  dT  2h
When k = const,  r   r T ( r )  T   0
dr 2  2 rdr
dAs  dr kt
in terms of excess temperature Ac  2 rt  ( r )  T ( r )  T
r1
d  d  r 2 2 2h
 r   mdrr  0 where m 
dr  rdr 2  kt
t
boundary conditions: when an adiabatic tip is
presumed
d  dT  h 4 rdr
2  rt
dr   ( r1 ) dr
 d 
 b , k dr  0
 T ( x )  T   0
dr r r2
 Solutions to generalized Bessel equations

d   d  2 
 r    r   0,    2  0
dr  dr 

General Solution:  ( r )  r /  Z    r 1/   ,
where   (1   ) /(     2),   2 /(     2),  /   (1   ) / 2

Particular solutions

: real  : real J and J  (or Y )

 : zero or integer J n and Yn

 : imaginary  : fractional I and I  (or K )

 : zero or integer I n and K n
 d  d
 2
present case:   m r  0
 r
dr  dr

d   d  2 
 r    r   0,     2  0
dr  dr 
2
  1,       m 2
 ( r )  r  /
Z    r 1/  

Thus,   ,      0,    mi
  r   Z  ( mr )    r   C1 I 0 ( mr )  C 2 K 0 ( mr )
boundary conditions:
  r1   C1 I 0 ( mr1 )  C 2 K 0 ( mr1 )   b
d dI 0 ( mr ) dK 0 ( mr )
 C1  C2 0
dr r  r2 dr r  r2 dr r  r2
d
dx
 x I n ( x )  x I n1 ( x ),
n n

d
dx
 x K n ( x )   x K n1 ( x )
n n

dI 0 ( mr )
 mI1 ( mr ), dK 0 ( mr )   mK 1 ( mr )
dx dx
dI 0 ( mr ) dK 0 ( mr )
C1  C2 0
dr r  r2 dr r  r2

C1 I1 ( mr2 )  C 2 K 1 ( mr2 )  0
 K 1 ( mr2 ) b
C1  ,
I 0 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )  K 0 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )

I1 ( mr2 ) b
C2 
I 0 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )  K 0 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )

  r   C1 I 0 ( mr )  C 2 K 0 ( mr )

 ( r ) K 1 ( mr2 ) I 0 ( mr )  I1 ( mr2 ) K 0 ( mr )

b I 0 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )  K 0 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )
Heat loss from the fin
Ac  2 rt Tb
dT
q f   kAc , b T(r)
dr r r1
r1
r
d
  k  2 r1 t  r2 dr
dr r  r1 T∞, h t

 ( r ) K 1 ( mr2 ) I 0 ( mr )  I1 ( mr2 ) K 0 ( mr )

b I 0 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )  K 0 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )
K 1 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )  I1 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )
q f  2 kr1t b
K 0 ( mr1 ) I1 ( mr2 )  I 0 ( mr1 ) K 1 ( mr2 )
 Fin Performance

• fin effectiveness

• fin resistance

• fin efficiency
 1. Fin effectiveness
Ac,b: fin cross-sectional
Tb area at the base
Ac,b heat loss without fin
qb  hAc ,b Tb  T   hAc ,b b
T∞, h
qf
fin effectiveness: f 
hAc ,b b
design criteria:  f  2 (rule of a thumb)
Assume hs are the same for with or without
fin.
Ex) long straight fin with uniform cross-
sectional area
q f  hPkAc  b

hPkAc  b kP
f  
hAc ,b b hAc

In order to get high fin performance

• large k material
• installation of fins at the lower h side
• thin shape
 kP provides upper limit of f, w
f  hich is reached as L approac
hAc
hes infinity.

long fin q f  hPkAc  b

hP
adia. tip q f  hPkAc  b tanh mL, m 
kAc
Practically qf for the adiabatic tip reaches
98% of heat transfer when mL = 2.3.
Thus, the fin length longer than L = 2.3/m
is not effective.
2. Fin resistance
b
qf  Tb
Rt , f
Ac,b
b
 Rt , f 
qf T∞, h
b: driving potential
Thermal resistance due to convection at th
e exposed base: Rt,b
b b 1
Rt ,b   
qb hAc ,b b hAc ,b
3. Fin efficiency L
qf qf Tb P
f   T , h
qmax hA f  b
Ac
dx dAs
qmax: heat loss when the x

whole fin is assumed at Tb

Ex) straight fin of uniform cross-sectional
area with an adiabatic tip
qf hPkAc  b tanh mL tanh mL
f   
hA f  b hPL b mL
For an active tip, the above relation can be
used with fin length correction.
t
rectangular fin: Lc  L  L
2
Tb t D
D T , h
pin fin: Lc  L  x
4
tanh m Lc
q f  M tanh m Lc ,  f   f  mLc 
m Lc
Errors can be negligible if

 ht / k  or  hD / 2k   0.0625
 When w >> t, P ~ 2w,  hP 
1/ 2

mLc    Lc
Ac  wt  kAc 
t w 1/ 2 1/ 2
 h2 w   2h 
  Lc    Lc
Lc  kwt   kt 
Ap
Ap
Corrected fin profile area Ap  Lc t  t 
Lc
1/ 2 1/ 2
 2h 
1/ 2
 2hLc   2h 
mLc    Lc    Lc   L3c / 2
 kA 
 kt   kAp   p

f  f L  3/ 2
c  2h / kA 
p
1/ 2

 Efficiency of straight fins
(rectangular, triangular, and parabolic profile)
Efficiency of annular fins of rectangular profile
 Overall Surface Efficiency

qf
single fin efficiency: f 
hA f  b
overall efficiency of qt qt
o  
array of fins: qmax hAt b
At : area of fins + exposed
At  NA f  Ab
portion of the base
qt  Nq f  hAb b  qf 
  f  
 hA f  b 
 N f hA f  b  hAb b

 
 h b  N f A f  At  NA f 

 NA f NA f 
 hAt b  f  1 
 At At 
 NA f 
 hAt b 1 
At
1   f 
 
qt NA f
o 
hAt b
 1
At
1  f  At  NA f  Ab
In the case of press fit:
thermal contact resistance
qt ( c ) qt ( c )
o ( c )   Tb Tc T∞
qmax hAt b

qt ( c )  Nq f ( c )  hAb b Tb Tc T
q f (c )
b Rt ,c Rt , f
q f (c ) 
Rt ,c  Rt , f
Tb  Tc Tb  Tc
qf ( c )   q f ( c )  qf ( c ) Ac , b 
Rt, c Rt, c / Ac , b
 Rt , c  Rt, c / Ac , b
 b qf 1
Rt , f  , f   Rt , f 
qf hA f  b  f hA f
b
q f (c ) 
Rt,c / Ac ,b  1/  f hA f
qt ( c )  Nq f ( c )  hAb b
N b
  hAb b
Rt, c / Ac , b  1/  f hA f
N f hA f  b
  hAb b
1   f hA f Rt, c / Ac ,b
 N f A f 
 h b   Ab 
 1   f hA f Rt, c / Ac , b 
let 1   f hA f Rt, c / Ac , b  C1

 N f A f 
qt ( c )  h b   Ab 
 C1 
 N f A f At  NA f 
 hAt b   
 C1 At At 
 NA f   f  
 hAt b 1  1  
 At  C1  
qt ( c ) qt ( c ) NA f   f 
o ( c )    1 1  
qmax hAt b At  C1 
Example 3.10 Annual fins
Engine cylinder
Cross-section
S (2024 T6 Al alloy)

Tb  500 K
H  0.15m

t  6mm
T  300K
h  50 W/m 2  K
air
r1  25mm
L  20mm
r2  45mm

Find:
Increase in heat transfer, q = qt – qwo, associated
with using fins
1) Heat transfer rate
f: known
Tb  500 K

H = 0.15 m
 NA f 
qt  hAt 1  1   f   b

t = 6 mm
 At 
At  NA f  Ab
r1  25mm
 NA f  2 r1  H  Nt  L  20mm
r2  45mm

A f  2 r22c  r12  T  300K
h  50 W/m 2  K
t 0.006
r2c  r2   0.045   0.048 m
2 2
 
A f  2 0.0482  0.0252  0.0105 m 2

At  5  0.0105  2  0.025  0.15  5  0.006   0.0716 m 2

To get f, use Fig. 3.19.

r2 c
, Lc  h / kAp 
1/ 2

H = 0.15 m
3/ 2
Parameters:

t = 6 mm
r1
r2 c 0.048
  1.92
r1 0.025
r1  25mm
L  20mm
t 0.006 r2  45mm
Lc  L   0.02   0.023 m
2 2 2024 T6 Al
Ap  Lc t  0.023  0.006  1.38  104 m 2 k = 186 at 400 K
1/ 2
 50 
 h / kA 
1/ 2
  0.023 
3/ 2 3/ 2
Lc p  186  1.38  104   0.15
 
0.95
 h / kA 
3/ 2 1/ 2
Lc p  0.15
r2 c
 1.92
r1
 f  0.95

0.15
  NA f 
qt  hAt 1 
At
1   f   b
 
 5  0.0105 
 50  0.0716 1  1  0.95  500  300  690 W
 0.0716 
Without fins

qwo  h  2 r1 H  b  236 W Tb  500 K

H = 0.15 m

t = 6 mm
The amount of increase in heat transfer

q  qt  qwo  454 W r1  25mm

L  20mm
qt 690 r2  45mm
  2.67 T  300K
qwo 236 h  50 W/m 2  K
Comments:
Fixed fin thickness : 6 mm, Minimum fin gap : 4 mm  Nmax= H/S =15
Fixed fin gap : 4 mm, Minimum fin thickness : 2 mm  Nmax= H/S =25
 Example 3.11
Hydrogen-air Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell
50 mm  26 mm
Without 10 mm gaps
finned heat
sink
50 mm  50 mm  6 mm

With
Tc  56.4 C finned heat
sink
V  9.4 m/s, T  25 C
  C  1000 W/(m 3s)

h  1.78kair L f  a  L  a 
f
Pf /  f
Known:
1) Dimensions of a fuel cell and finned heat sink
2) Fuel cell operating temperature
3) Rate of thermal energy generation: 11.25 W
4) Power production: P = 9 W
5) Relationship between the convection coefficient and the air channel
dimensions
Find:
1 ) Net power of the fuel cell-fan system for no heat sink, Pnet = P – Pf
2 ) # of fins N needed to reduce the fan power consumption by 50%
Assumptions:
1) Steady-state conditions
2) Negligible heat transfer from the edges of the fuel cell, as well as from
the front and back faces of the finned heat sink
3) 1D heat transfer through the heat sink
4) Adiabatic fin tips
5) Negligible radiation when the heat sink is in place.
 P=9W

Fuel cell V  9.4 m/s, T  25 C


1. Pnet  P  Pf  P  C  f

Fan power consumption: Pf /   C  1000 W/(m 3s)

f
Volumetric flow rate of cooling air:   VA , Ac  W  H  tc 
 f c

  V W  H  t   9.4m/s  0.05m  (0.026m  0.006m)

 f  c 

 9.4  103 m 3 /s
Pnet  P  C    9.0 W  1000 W/(m 3
/s)  9.4  10 -3
m 3
/s
f

 9.0 W  9.4 W  0.4 W

The fan consumes more power than is generated by the fuel cell, and the
system cannot produce net power.
 Pf  9.4 W / 2  4.7 W
2. To reduce the fan power consumption by 50%,
  C  1000 W/(m 3s)  
Pf /    4.7  103 m 3 /s
f f

Aluminum fined sink:

k = 200 W/m.K
Rt,c  103 m 2  K/W

Lc = 50 mm

h  1.78kair L f  a  L  a 
f

contact joint + finned sink base + exposed base of finned side + fins
(contact) (conduction) (convection) (conv+cond)
Thermal circuit Tc  T
q = 11.25 W
Rt ,c  Rt ,base  Requiv
1
Requiv   R  R
1
t ,b
1
t, f (N )

 Aluminum fined sink:
k = 200 W/m.K

Rt,c  103 m 2  K/W

Lc = 50 mm

Tc  Tb Tc  Tb Tc  Tb
Rt ,c : q  , q  Aq  
Rt,c Rt,c / A Rt ,c

Rt ,c  Rt,c / A  Rt,c / 2 LcWc : 2 sides of the heat sink assembly

 (103 m 2  K/W)/(2  0.05m  0.05m) = 0.2K/W

Rt ,base : Rt ,base  L / kA  tb /(2kLcWc )
 (0.02m)/(2  200 W/m  K  0.05m  0.05m) = 0.002 K/W
 Aluminum fined sink:
k = 200 W/m.K

Rt,c  103 m 2  K/W

Lc = 50 mm


h  1.78kair L f  a  L  a 
f
1 1
Rt ,b : Rt ,b  
 
hA h 2Wc  Nt f Lc

1

h  (2  0.05m  N  0.001m)  0.05 m
1

h  0.005  0.0005 N 
 N, h are needed to evaluate Rt,b
 Aluminum fined sink:
k = 200 W/m.K

Rt,c  103 m 2  K/W

Lc = 50 mm

Tb  T N Tb  T  Rt , f
Rt , f ( N ) : q f ( N )   Nq f   Rt , f ( N ) 
Rt , f ( N ) Rt , f N

For a single fin, Rt , f   b / q f

For a fin with an insulated fin tip, q f  hPkAc  b  tanh m L f
b 1 hP
Rt , f   , m
qf hPkAc  tanh m L f kAc
 Aluminum fined sink:
k = 200 W/m.K

Lc = 50 mm


P  2 Lc  t f   2  (0.05m  0.001m)  0.102m
Ac  Lc t f  0.05m  0.001m = 0.00005m 2

hP h  0.102m
m  2
 10.2h
kAc 200 W/m  K  0.00005m
 Aluminum fined sink:
k = 200 W/m.K

1
Rt , f 
hPkAc  tanh m L f
1

h  0.102m  200 W/m  K  0.00005m 2  tanh( 10.2h  0.008 m)
Rt , f 1
For N fins, Rt , f ( N )  
N N 0.00102h tanh(0.008 10.2h )
 N, h are also needed to evaluate Rt,f
The total thermal resistance, Rtot
Rtot  Rt ,c  Rt ,base  Requiv
T  25C

Tc  56.4C
1
The equivalent fin resistance, Reqiuv Requiv   R  R
1
t ,b
1
t, f (N )


Tc  T Tc  T
q   11.25 W
Rtot Rt ,c  Rt ,base  Requiv

Tc  T
Requiv    Rt ,c  Rt ,base 
q
56.4 C  25 C
  (0.2  0.02)K/W  2.59K/W
11.25 W
 1
1 1
 2.59K/W
Rt ,b  Rt , f ( N )
1 1
Rt ,b  , Rt , f ( N ) 
h  0.005  0.0005 N  N 0.00102h tanh(0.008 10.2h )


h  1.78kair L f  a  L  a 
f

2Wc  Nt f 2  0.05m  N  0.001m 0.1  0.001 N

a   
N N N
 
h  1.78kair L f  a  L  a 
f

Properties: Table A.4. air

(T  300K)
kair  0.0263 W/m  K

 0.1  0.001 N  0.1  0.001 N 

h  1.78  0.0263  0.08   0.08  
 N  N 
1
1 1
 2.59K/W
Rt ,b  Rt , f ( N )
1
Rt ,b 
h  0.005  0.0005 N 
1
Rt , f ( N ) 
N 0.00102h tanh(0.008 10.2h )
For N = 22, 11 on top and 11 on the bottom,

a  0.0035 m, h  19.1 W/m 2  K, m  13.9m -1

Rt , f ( N )  2.94K/W, Rt ,b  13.5 K/W
Requiv  2.41K/W, Rtot  2.61K/W

Tc  54.4C (Tc  56.4 C)

Pnet  P  Pf  9.0W  4.7W  4.3W

For N = 20, Tc  58.9C

For N = 24, Tc  50.7 C