Extended Heat Transfer-I Extended Heat Transfer-II

• Consider a slab fuel with volumetric
heat generation. If it is cooled by an
efficient media, then the temperature
profile is as shown in the dotted line
• If the heat transfer coefficient is poor,
then the fluid temperature drop will
be more and the centerline
temperature will also increase as
shown by the dark line
• This will lead to unacceptably high
temperature. One way of reducing
the temperature would be by
attaching fins to the outside surface
• Addition of fins reduce convective resistance by
increasing A
1
R conv =
hA
• Heat transfer by addition of surface area is called
extended heat transfer or fin heat transfer
x • Heat transfer in Fin is by both convection and
conduction
• Though strictly not one dimensional, it can be
approximated by one dimensional heat transfer
• Since it is a model used for analysis, we shall
derive the fin equation from basics

Governing equations for Fins-I Governing equations for Fins-II

• In general, let the fin be of varying cross d  dT 
 kA  − hP(T − T∞ ) = 0
section as shown x dx  dx 

hP∆x (T − T∞ ) • If k of the fin is constant, then,

d  dT  hP
dT dT d  dT  A − (T − T∞ ) = 0
− kA − kA +  − kA  ∆x dx  dx  k
dx dx dx  dx 
∆x
• If the fin is prismatic, then, A is independent of x
d 2T hP
• In steady state, heat in should be equal to heat out ⇒ − (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx 2 kA
dT  dT d  dT   • Defining (T-T∞) = θ, and (hP/kA) = m2, we have
− kA −  − kA +  − kA  ∆x  − hP∆x (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx  dx dx  dx   d 2θ
In out out ⇒ − m 2θ = 0
dx 2

Governing equations for Fins-III Governing equations for Fins-IV

• The governing equation is a second order differential • This is expressed as
equation and its solution can be expressed as dT dθ
⇒ =0⇒ = 0 at x = L
mx − mx dx dx
θ = C1e + C2e
• Boundary condition at x = 0, gives
• The Boundary condition for the above equation is
θ b = C1 + C 2
usually idealized conditions
• Boundary condition at x = L, gives
• At the base of the fin, the temperature is usually
specified as Tb 0 = C1me mL + C 2 (− m)e − mL

⇒ θ = θ b = Tb − T∞ at x = 0 ⇒ 0 = C1e mL − (θ b − C1 )e − mL
• The commonly used boundary condition at the tip is e − mL e − mL
⇒ C1 = θ b C 2 = θ b − C1 = θ b − θ b
what is known as insulated tip boundary e mL
+e − mL
e mL
+ e − mL

1
 Governing equations for Fins-V Fins
e mL
⇒ C 2 = θb
e mL
+ e − mL

e − mL e mx + e mL e − mx
∴ θ = θb
e mL + e − mL
e − m (L − x ) + e m ( L − x )
= θb
e mL + e − mL
cosh m( L − x )
θ = θb
cosh mL

Fin Heat Transfer -I Fin Heat Transfer -II

• We Studied the case of Fin with insulated tip and • Total heat transferred by the fin is given by
0.995
obtained the solution as 1 dT dθ
mL q = − kA = − kA 1
cosh m( L − x ) θ 1
dx x =0 dx x =0
θ = θb
cosh mL θb 2 dθ Sinh (m(L − x ) )(− m) ∴
q

3 = θb θ b hPkA
• The parameter mL is non-dimensional 4 dx cosh mL mL=3
0
and decides the character of the fin 0
dθ Sinh (mL ) mL
∴ = −θ b m = −θ b mTanh (mL )
• mL=1 is kind of under-designed fin and mL=5 will dx x =0 cosh(mL )
be a over designed fin with material waste, mL=3 is dθ hP
considered a good number for fin design ∴ − kA = kAθ b mTanh (mL ) = kAθ b Tanh ( mL )
dx x =0 kA
• Let us get more information by obtaining the total
heat transfered ∴ q = θ b hPkA Tanh ( mL)

Fin Heat Transfer -II Fin Heat Transfer -III

• As the boundary conditions are modified, or
• Another measure used is the fin efficiency ηf
variable area fins are concerned, the subject gets
more complicated and will be left to specialists Heat transferred with fin
ηf =
• However, to help non-specialists use complex Heat transferred with entire fin at base temperature
results and interpret them, some simple parameters
are defined. θ b hPkA Tanh (mL ) kA Tanh (mL ) Tanh (mL )
ηf = = =
• The first one is fin effectiveness εf θ b hPL hP L mL
Heat transferred with fin q with fin • The value of ηf is generally dependent on the
εf = =
Heat transferred without fin q without fin non-dimensional parameter mL and expressions
• For the case we have analysed are available for complex geometries.
θ b hPkA Tanh (mL ) kP • The definitions of P and A have to be carefully
εf = = Tanh (mL ) understood. This you can do in the homework
θ b hA hA

2
 Fin Heat Transfer -IV Fin Heat Transfer -V
• The real interest in
engineering is not a • Heat transferred by the unfinned area
single fin but a fin array q uf = hA uf θ b
such as the ones shown
• Total Heat transferred
q t = q f + q uf = NhA f θ b ηf + hA uf θ b
• Let us now define the following areas
• In terms of electrical analogy
• Auf is the total area that is not finned (unfinned) 1
q uf hA uf
• Af is the each fin surface area (perimeter x Length)
• Heat transferred by the fins can be given by
qt qf 1
q f = NhPLθ b ηf = NhA f θ b ηf NhA f ηf
θb

Fin Heat Transfer -VI

• Many times the fins are not metallurgically bonded
but shrink fitted or bonded with adhesives
• This adds contact resistance
• This can easily be accommodated using electrical
analogy
1
q uf hA uf

qt qf R ′′
1
NhA f ηf
NA cf
θb