Fins

February 21, 2007

Outline
Heat Transfer with Fins

Larry Caretto
Mechanical Engineering 375

Heat Transfer

Review previous material

What is a fin and why do we use them?
Examples of fins
Analysis of fins
Fin effectiveness

February 21, 2007

2

Review Parallel Resistances

1
Rtotal
T =

Tsurr

1
Rtotal

1
Rconv

Review Slab with Convection

1

htotal =

= As hconv + As hrad

1
= hconv + hrad
As Rtotal

Q&

Figure 3-26
from engel,
Heat and Mass
Transfer

First find heat flux from h1, h2, q& = = 1 2

A 1 +L+ 1
L, k, T1, and T2

h1

T2 = T 2 +

q&
h2

h2

Once heat flux is known, find T1 and T2

T1 = T1

Review Composite
Cylindrical Shell

Figure 3-6 from

engel, Heat and
Mass Transfer

Rrad

Define total heat transfer

coefficient, htotal
Figure 3-5
from engel,
Heat and
Mass Transfer

A is area normal
to heat flow

q&
h1

Effect of Insulation Thickness

2500

Review: Adding insulation to a

cylinder (or sphere) can
actually increase heat transfer!

2000

1500

physical
radius

Heat loss
(Btu/hr)
1000

Maximum heat transfer is at rc = k/h,

which may be less than physical radius

500

T1 T2
Q& =
r

r
r
1
1
1
1
1
+
ln 4 +
ln 3 +
ln 2 +
h1 2r1L 2k1L r1 2k2 L r2 2k3 L r3 h2 2r4 L
5

ME 375 Heat Transfer

0
0

10

Radius (in)
6

Fins

February 21, 2007

Resistances for Pipe Insulation

Review Conduction Shape Factor

12

10

Simplified analysis
for multidimensional geometries with each
surface at a uniform temperature
Use shape factor, S, whose equation is
found from tables like engel Table 3-7
& = kS(T T )
Basic equation: Q
1
2
S must have dimensions of length

Resistance
6
(hrftF/Btu)

Insultation
Resistance
Convection
Resistance
Total
Resistance

0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

Equations for S depend on parameters in the

different geometries

Insulation Thickness (in)

7

What is a Fin?
A fin is a extended
surface to
increase area for
convection heat
transfer
Q& = hAs (Ts T )
Goal is to increase
&
As to increase Q

Innovative Fin Designs

Important
application is
cooling of power
electronics
How do we
analyze fin
effectiveness?

Automobile radiator
is example of fin

Start with
simple 1D fin

Figure 3-33 from engel, Heat Transfer

9

Figure 3-35
from engel,
Heat Transfer

Analysis
Conduction in xdirection
Convection from
fin surface
Heat balance
over differential
volume element

S
T0 =
Tb

p = perimeter

dT
dT

+ hpx(T T )
kAc dx = kAc dx

x
x + x
11

ME 375 Heat Transfer

Figure 3-34 from engel,

Heat Transfer

10

What is Fin Shape?

Analysis does not consider shape of
cross section, only area and perimeter
Derivation of fin equation assumes
constant cross section
Fin may be in the shape of a uniform cylinder,
but not a cone

Is fin two dimensional?

Yes, but one-dimensional analysis is
accurate if h/k < 0.2, where = D for
circular fins, thickness for rectangular fins
12

Fins

February 21, 2007

Fin Equation and Solution

Boundary Conditions for C1, C2

= C1e mx + C2e mx

T0 = Tb = base temperature at x = 0
Define = T T so b = Tb T
The fin equation for constant k and Ac is
d 2
hp
m 2 = 0
m2 =
2
kAc
dx

First condition: base temperature is Tb

so = b = Tb T at x = 0
Alternatives for second condition
Infinitely long fin (requires C1= 0)
Negligible heat transfer from end at x = L
Convection and radiation heat transfer
coefficient for end at x = L

The solution to this differential equation

is:

= C1e mx + C2e mx

13

14

Infinitely Long Fin

Zero Heat Transfer at x = L

= C1e mx + C2e mx

= C1e mx + C2e mx
C1 = 0 to keep solution finite
At x = 0, = b = requires C2 = b

= b e mx
q& = k

T T = (Tb T )e

dT
x
= k (Tb T )e
dx

hp kAc

At x = 0, = b; at x = L, d/dx = 0
Algebraic details at end = b cosh m( L x)

x hp kAc

d d (T Tb ) dT
=
=
= mC1e mx mC2e mx
dx
dx
dx

hp kAc

Q& x =0 = Ac q& x =0 = kAc (Tb T ) hp kAc = kAc hp (Tb T )

cosh mL
d
m sinh m( L x) kb m sinh m( L x)
=
q& = k
= kb
dx
cosh mL
cosh mL
kA m sinh mL( L x)
Q& x=0 = Ac q& x =0 = c b
= kAc hp (Tb T ) tanh mL
cosh mL

15

16

Hyperbolic Tangent

Convection

1
0.9
0.8

tanh x

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

x
17

ME 375 Heat Transfer

For convection (+
radiation) at x = L
use approximation of
extra length
Use adjusted length,
Lc, to give area Ac
Modified length, Lc =
L + Ac/p, will give
convection from end
Figure 3-39 from
engel, Heat Transfer

18

Fins

February 21, 2007

Problem

Solution

A pin (cylindrical) fin has a diameter of

4 mm, a length of 5 cm, and a thermal
conductivity of 200 W/mK. If the heat
transfer coefficient is 70 W/m2K, with a
surface temperature of 50oC and an air
temperature of 20oC, what is the heat
transfer with and without the fin?
Given: k = 200 W/mK, h = 70 W/m2K,
D = 0.004 m, L = 0.05 m, Ts = 50oC, T
& with and without fin
= 20oC, Find: Q

Use equation for finite length fin with

end correction for convection
Q& x=0 = kAc hp (Tb T ) tanh mLc

m = hp kAc

Lc = L + Ac p

p = D = (0.004 m ) = 0.01257 m

Ac = D 2 4 = (0.004 m )2 4 = 0.00001257 m 2

Lc = L + Ac p = 0.05 m + 0.00001257m2 (0.01257 m) = 0.051 m

hp
70 W m K
0.01257 m
=
= 18.71 m1
kAc
m2 K 200 W 0.00001257m2

m=

19

20

Solution II

Increase of 40 times?

Q& x =0 = kAc hp (Tb T ) tanh mLc = (50 20)K

70 W
m2 K

(0.01257 m )(0.00001257 m 2 ) 200 W

m K

Q& fin = 1.05 W

18.71
(0.051 m )
tanh
m

Without fin available area is Ac

Q& no

fin

= Ac h(Tb T ) =

70 W
m2 K

(0.00001257 m )(30 K ) = 0.0264 W

2

Increase by factor of 39.64 (effectiveness, )

Factor of 40 increase in heat transfer is

just for area of fin
A practical installation of small fins like this
one would have several fins on a surface
Consider two areas on original surface
Area where pins occur will have increase by
factor shown in fin analysis
Area without fins has usual flat surface result

Will consider this difference in determining

fin effectiveness

21

Fin Effectiveness

Constant Ac Fin Effectiveness

Effectiveness, fin, is ratio of heat transfer with fin to heat transfer with no fin
fin =

Infinitely long fin

Fin with end
convection

Q& fin
Q& fin
=
&
Qno fin hAb (Tb T )

Ab is fin area at base, same as Ac for fin

with constant cross sectional area
Want fin effectiveness greater than one
to get additional heat transfer
23

ME 375 Heat Transfer

22

fin =
convfin =

Q& x =0 = kAc hp (Tb T )

Q& x =0 = kAc hp (Tb T ) tanh mL

kAc hp (Tb T )
Q& x =0
kp
=
=
hAc (Tb T )
hAc (Tb T )
hAc
kAc hp (Tb T ) tanh mL
kp
=
tanh mL
hAc (Tb T )
hAc
24

Fins

February 21, 2007

What makes a fin effective?

fin =

kp
hAc

convfin =

What makes a fin effective? II

hp
kp
kp
L
tanh mL =
tanh
hAc
hAc
kAc

convfin =

hp
kp
kp
tanh mL =
tanh
L
hAc
hAc
kAc

Choose a base case and vary each

parameter from 0.1 to 10 times base value

For infinite fin high k, low h and high ratio

of p/Ac make a fin effective
For pin fin, p = D and Ac = D2/4, so
p/Ac = 4/D; small D gives better
Effect of variables on fin with convection
at end is not clear

Rectangular fin with width, w, and thickness, t,

so that Ac = tw and p = 2(t + w)

Base case has k = 200 W/mK, w = 0.03 m,

t = 0.005 m, h = 70 W/m2K, L = 0.08 m
Base mLc = 1.05 and = 28.5

25

26

Effect of Parameters on Rectangular Fin Effectiveness

Overall Fin Effectiveness

Fin Effectiveness

110
100

Base Case

90

k = 200 W/mK
t = 0.005 m
w = 0.03 m

80
70
60

thermal conductivity

h = 70 W/m K
L = 0.08 m
mL = 1.05

fin thickness, t
fin width, w
heat transfer coefficient

40
30

no fin

20
10
0
0.1

10

Ratio of parameter to base value

27

Fin Efficiency

for uniform
cross section

A fin = Lc p

Figure 3-39 from

engel, Heat Transfer

ME 375 Heat Transfer

Compare actual
heat transfer to
ideal case where
entire fin is at
base temperature
Q& fin
fin = &
=
Q fin,max
Q& fin
hA fin (Tb T )

Q& fin
h fin A fin + Aunfin (Tb T )
=
Q&
hA(T T )

fin length

50

Original area, A = (area

with fins, Afin) + (area
without fins, Aunfin)

29

Q& fin
A fin Aunfin

total = &
= fin
+
Qno fin
A
A
Figure 3-45 from
engel, Heat Transfer

28

Fin Efficiency II
Relation to effectiveness
Q& fin
fin hAc (Tb T ) fin Ac
fin =
=
=
&
Q fin,max
hA fin (Tb T )
A fin
Recall pin fin problem with D = 0.004 m
and Lc = 0.051 m so Afin = pLc = DLc =
(0.004 m)(0.051 m) = 0.0006409 m2
Previously showed = 39.64 so = (39.64)
(pD2/4)/(0.0006409 m2) = 0.777
30

Fins

February 21, 2007

Fin Efficiency Data

Fin Efficiency Data II

Figure 3-43 from

engel, Heat Transfer

A p = Lc t

Figure 3-42
from engel,
Heat
Transfer
31

32

From engel, Heat Transfer

Electronic Heat Sinks

Designed to protect equipment like
power transistors from overheating
Characterized by thermal resistance, R,
& = power dissipation =
such that Q
(Tdevice - T)/R
See Table 3-6 in engel for examples
with R values
First part of table shown on next chart
33

34

Problem

Solution

A power transistor that dissipates

120 W has a maximum operating
temperature of 70oC. Cooling air is
available at 25oC. Are any of the heat
sinks on the previous page suitable for
this transistor?
& = 120 W, T = 70oC, T =
Given: Q
surf

25oC
Find: Do devices have sufficient R

Q& =

R=

Tsurf T 70o C 25o C 1.125o C

=
=
40 W
Q&
W

Only the HS 5030 mounted vertically

(with R = 0.9oC/W) will satisfy this
cooling requirement
The R values for the other heat sinks
are too large (1.2oC/W and 5oC/W)

35

ME 375 Heat Transfer

Tsurf T

36

Fins

February 21, 2007

Extra Charts

Zero Heat Transfer at x = L

The following charts show the details of

the fin equation solution for no
convection (dT/dx = 0) at x = L

= C1e mx + C2e mx

d d (T Tb ) dT
=
=
= mC1e mx mC2e mx
dx
dx
dx

At x = 0, = b; at x = L, d/dx = dT/dx= 0
d
dT
=
dx x = L dx

b = C1 + C2

b = C1 + C1e

C1 =

b
1 + e 2mL

x= L

= mC1e mL mC2e mL = 0

C2 = C1e 2mL

2 mL

C2 = C1e 2mL =

b e 2 mL
1 + e 2mL

37

Zero Heat Transfer at x = L II

Combine results from last chart
= C1e

mx

+ C2e

b
1 + e 2mL

mx

e mx +

C1 =

b e 2 mL
1 + e 2mL

b e 2 mL

C2 =
1 + e 2 mL
1 + e 2mL
e mx + b e 2mL e mx
e mx = b
1 + e 2mL

Multiply fraction top and bottom by e-mL

=

1 + e 2mL

e mx +

b e 2mL

1 + e 2mL

e mx =

b e mL e mx + b e mL e mx
e mL + e mL

39

ME 375 Heat Transfer

38

Zero Heat Transfer at x = L III

Rearrange exponential terms on last
chart and introduce hyperbolic cosine,
cosh(x) = (ez + e-z)/2
=

b e mL e mx + b e mL e mx

= b

e m( x L ) + e m( x L )

e mL + e mL
e mL + e mL
2 cosh m( L x) b cosh m( L x)
= b
=
2 cosh mL
cosh mL

Final result: =

b cosh m( L x)
cosh mL
40