Heat Transfer

Computational Laboratories

Heat Transfer From Extended Surfaces

(Laboratory I)

Exploring the role of fin geometrical parameters and transport

properties on the fin performance

Jorge E. P. Navalho – 2020/2021

 Extended Surfaces - Fins: Motivation for Application
Procedures to increase the rate of heat transfer
(q) from a wall at a constant temperature (Ts )
to an adjoining fluid:

• Increase the convection heat transfer

coefficient (h) and/or decrease the fluid
temperature (T∞ ) – costly and impractical
solutions; and
• Increase the effective surface area (A).

Motivation for Fin Application

Extended surfaces aim to enhance heat transfer by an increase in the
available surface area for convection (and/or radiation). Highly rec-
ommended when h is small (gases under free-convection conditions).

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 Extended Surfaces - Fins: Practical Applications

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 Extended Surfaces - Fins: Configurations
Fin Configuration
Typical Configurations:
• Straight fins:
◦ Uniform Cross Section
◦ Non-uniform Cross Section
• Annular fins (non-uniform
cross section)
• Pin fins (non-uniform
cross-section)

The selection of the fin design depends on: space, weight, cost, effect
on fluid motion (and consequently on h and pressure drop).

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 Fin Equation: Governing Energy Balance Equation

• Equation derived from the

application of an energy balance to a
differential element.
• Assumptions:
◦ one-dimensional conduction;
◦ steady-state conditions;
◦ constant thermal conductivity;
◦ constant convection coefficient;
◦ no thermal energy generation; and
◦ negligible radiative heat losses.

Fin Equation - General Form

d 2T
   
1 dAc dT 1 h dAs
+ − (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx 2 Ac dx dx Ac k dx

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 Fin Equation Applied to Uniform Fins
Fin Equation - General Form
d 2T
   
1 dAc dT 1 h dAs
+ − (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx 2 Ac dx dx Ac k dx

Considering:
hP
• m2 = kA
For fins of uniform cross section: c
(P = dAs /dx)
• dA
dx = 0
c • ξ = x/L
• Θ (ξ) = θ(ξ) T (ξ)−T∞
θb = T (0)−T∞

Fin Equation for Uniform Fins

d 2Θ
− (mL)2 Θ = 0
dξ 2

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 General Sol. for the Fin Eq. Applied to Uniform Fins
General Solution of the Fin Equation for Uniform Fins

Θ (ξ) = C1 e mLξ + C2 e −mLξ

Boundary conditions (BCs)

1. Fin base (ξ = 0):
◦ Θ (0) = 1 (Fixed temperature - Dirichlet BC)
2. Fin tip
 (ξ = 1):
◦ dΘ 
dξ  = 0 (Adiabatic tip - Zero Neumann BC)
ξ=1
◦ −k dΘ 
dξ  = htip LΘ(1) (Active tip - Convection BC)
ξ=1

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 Fin Eq. Solution for Uniform Fin with Adiabatic Tip

Normalized Excess Temperature Note that

q
• mL = hP
cosh [mL (1 − ξ)] kAc L
Θa (ξ) = √
cosh (mL) • M = hPkAc θb
Fin Heat Transfer Rate ◦ M corresponds to the
heat rate observed for
qfa = Mtanh(mL) an infinite fin (qfi )

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 Fin Eq. Solution for Uniform Fin with Adiabatic Tip
Normalized Excess Temperature Normalized Heat Transfer Rate
cosh [mL (1 − ξ)] qfa
Θa (ξ) = = tanh(mL)
cosh (mL) M

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 Fin Eq. Solution for Uniform Fin with Convective Tip

Normalized Excess Temperature

Note that
c cosh [mL (1 − ξ)] + (htip /km) sinh [mL (1 − ξ)] • htip = 0:
Θ (ξ) =
cosh (mL) + (htip /km) sinh (mL) adiabatic tip
solution
Fin Heat Transfer Rate
• Generally
(htip /mk) + tanh (mL)
qfc =M htip = h
1 + (htip /mk) tanh (mL)

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 Adiabatic vs. Convective Tip Solutions

The difference Θa (ξ) − Θc (ξ)

increases by:
• increasing htip for a constant mL;
• decreasing L for a constant htip .

Increasing htip :
• qfc − qfa increases;

• dΘ increases, i.e. qf ,tip

dξ  ξ=1
increases, since 
qf ,tip = −kθb ALc dΘ 
dξ ξ=1 .

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 Relative Importance of Tip Convection on the Overall
Fin Heat Transfer Rate (1/2)

The adiabatic tip solution becomes

a suitable approximation for an
actual active tip for low values of
qf,tip /qcf or high values of qfa /qfc .
qfc −qfa
• qf ,tip = 2
1−2sech(mL)sinh( mL
2 )
◦ qf ,tip ≈ qfc − qfa for low mL
qf ,tip /qfc decreases: values.
• qf ,tip = htip Ac θb Θc (ξ = 1)
• increasing the fin length (L ↑); qf ,tip (htip /km)
• qfc =
• decreasing the convection (htip /km)cosh(mL)+sinh(mL)
coefficient at the fin tip (htip ↓).
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 Relative Importance of Tip Convection on the Overall
Fin Heat Transfer Rate (2/2)
The adiabatic tip solution becomes
a suitable approximation for an
actual active tip for low values of
qf ,tip /qfc or high values of qaf /qcf .

qfa tanh(mL)[1+(htip /km)tanh(mL)]

• qfc = (htip /km)+tanh(mL)

qfa /qfc increases:

• increasing the fin length (L ↑);
• decreasing htip ;
• increasing m, that is:
◦ increasing h/k;
◦ increasing P/Ac .

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 Fin Thermal Performance Parameters

Fin Effectiveness (εf ) Fin Efficiency (ηf )

qf qf
εf = ηf =
Ac,b hθb Af hθb
εf – ratio between the actual fin ηf – ratio between the actual fin
heat rate (qf ) and the heat rate heat rate (qf ) and the heat rate
observed without the fin applica- that would be observed if the en-
tion (qbNoFin ). tire fin were at the fin base tem-
• The application of an extended perature (maximum – idealized
surface may increase the heat
transfer resistance (fin resistance)
– fin heat rate, qmax ).
in relation to the convection
resistance of the bare surface
(εf = Rt,b /Rt,f ).
• In general, εf < 2 do not justify
the fin application.

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 Performance for the Uniform Fin with Adiabatic Tip

Fin Efficiency (ηf ) Fin Effectiveness (εf )

1 Af a
εaf =
Z
tanh (mL) η
ηfa = = Θdξ Ac,b f
mL 0

mL ∼ 1/2
= L3/2 [2h/ (kAp )] , w >> t

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 Exploring the Software Module (1/2)
Software module – [Link]

• The module solves the fin equation through a finite-volume approach.

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 Exploring the Software Module (2/2)
Software module – [Link]

• The module considers active and adiabatic tip BCs for different fin types.

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Problem Statement
Consider a pin fin of uniform cross section with
dimensions L = 0.05 m and D = 0.005 m. The fin
is made of 2024 aluminum alloy. All fin surfaces
(lateral and tip surfaces) are surrounded by a fluid
medium with a constant convection coefficient (h)
and temperature (T∞ ) equal to 250 W.m−2 .K−1
and 20 ◦ C, respectively. The fin base temperature
(Tb ) is equal to 90 ◦ C.

Evaluate the following using the software module:

1. temperature profile along the fin longitudinal direction, T (x);
2. total fin heat transfer rate, qf ;
3. fin efficiency, ηf ; and
4. fin effectiveness, εf .

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Module Application and Results
Module Input Data
2 - Fin transport properties 3 - Fin geom. parameters
1 - Fin type
k (Cond.): 178 W.m−1 .K−1 L (Length): 0.05 m
"Cylindrical Pin"
h (Hconv): 250 W.m−2 .K−1 D (Diam): 0.005 m

Module Results

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Results Analysis (1/4)
1. Temperature profile along the fin longitudinal direction, T (x)

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Results Analysis (2/4)
2. Total fin heat transfer rate, qf

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Results Analysis (3/4)
3. Fin efficiency, ηf

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example I: Results Analysis (4/4)
4. Fin effectiveness, εf

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example II: Problem Statement
Consider for the same fin configuration, fin
dimensions and temperatures of Example I the
combination of three values of thermal
conductivities – 5 (k1 ), 178 (k2 ), and 300 (k3 )
W.m−1 .K−1 – with three values of convection heat
transfer coefficients – 10 (h1 ), 250 (h2 ), and 1500
(h3 ) W.m−2 .K−1 .
For these nine combinations, evaluate the following using the module:
1. fin efficiency, ηf ;
2. fin effectiveness, εf ;
3. the suitability of the adiabatic tip assumption for the prediction of
the fin heat rate for an actual active tip situation, qfa /qfc ; and
4. the suitability of the 1D conduction assumption on the fin equation
formulation in relation to the 3D conduction problem (advanced).
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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example II: Results Analysis (1/4)
1. Fin efficiency, ηf – Num.(Analyt.) [%] Temp. Profiles, Θ and T – Analyt.
h1 h2 h3
k1 47.2(47.3) 9.9(10.2) 4.3(4.9)
k2 96.2(96.2) 54.6(54.7) 23.8(24.0)
k3 97.7(97.7) 65.6(65.6) 30.8(30.9)

2. Fin effectiveness, εf – Num.(Analyt.) [–]

h1 h2 h3
k1 19.4(19.4) 4.1(4.2) 1.8∗(2.0)
k2 39.5(39.5) 22.4(22.4) 9.8(9.8)
k3 40.1(40.1) 26.9(26.9) 12.6(12.7)

Attention: The combination (k1 , h3 ) is

not recommended (and should be
avoided) because the calculated fin
effectiveness value (1.8) is less than 2.0.
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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example II: Results Analysis (2/4)
The ratio qfa /qfc is equal to Qtotal
a c
/Qtotal . Temp. Profiles, Θ and T – Analyt.
a c
Qtotal (Qtotal ) is directly given by the
module selecting the adiabatic
(convective) fin tip boundary condition.

3. qfa /qfc – Num.(Analyt.) [–]

h1 h2 h3
k1 1.00(1.00) 1.00(1.00) 1.00(1.00)
k2 0.99(0.98) 0.99(0.99) 1.00(1.00)
k3 0.97(0.98) 0.99(0.99) 1.00(0.99)

The adiabatic tip assumption becomes

well-suited for high values of qfa /qfc , i.e.,
as the ratio h/k increases – in full
accordance with Slide 13.

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example II: Results Analysis (3/4)
4(2). 2D temperature distribution
4(1). 1D vs. multi-dim. heat conduction
• The 1D heat conduction assumption behind
the fin equation formulation may be
inadequate for accurate predictions under
specific fin conditions.
• Since the fin configuration is axisymmetric
the heat conduction may proceed along the
longitudinal and radial directions (2D heat
flow).
• 2D axisymmetric simulation results for the
nine (k, h) combinations are presented at
the right figure. For ease of visualization
the vertical (radial) direction was stretched
by a factor of 2.

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 Exploring the Software Module - Uniform Pin Fin
Module Application Example II: Results Analysis (4/4)
4(3). Temp. profiles - extreme cases
4(4). Extreme case (k1 , h3 )

• The 1D conduction assumption on the

formulation of the fin equation is less
adequate for high h/k ratios.
• The multi-dimensional conduction
effects are more pronounced near the
fin base surface.

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 Useful Relations
1. Fin Temperature Profile - Θ, θ, T 3. Fin Effectiveness - εf
θ (ξ) T (ξ) − T∞ qf Af
Θ (ξ) = = εf = = ηf
θb T (0) − T∞ Ac,b hθb Ac,b
| {z }
Θ (ξ) – Normalized excess temperature qbNoFin
θb – Excess temperature at the fin base
ξ (= x/L) – Dimensionless axial position Fins with εf < 2 are not rec-
L – Fin length ommended for application

2. Fin Heat Rate - qf 4. Fin Efficiency - ηf

Z qf Qtotal
qf = θb h Θ (ξ) dAs ηf = =
Af hθb Af h
Af | {z }
| {z } qmax
q−1
Qtotal = θf =Rt,f
b
qmax – Heat transfer rate that
qfa – Fin heat rate considering an adiabatic tip would be observed if the entire
qfc – Fin heat rate considering a convective tip fin were at the base tempera-
Af – Convective fin area ture

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