Chapter 2 Conduction in extended surfaces

(Material presented in this chapter are based on those in Chapter 3, Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, Fifth Edition by Incropera and DeWitt)

2.1

Introduction

The systems that were considered had heat transfer due to conduction in the same direction as the heat transfer due to convection from the systems surfaces to the surroundings. However, there are several applications where the direction of heat transfer from the boundaries (or surfaces) is in the direction perpendicular to the principal direction of heat transfer in the solid. Consider the system shown in Fig. (2.1a). One end of the system is maintained at temperature T1 and the other end T2 with T1 > T2 . So there will be ow of heat due to conduction from region with temperature T1 to region with temperature T2 , that is along x direction. Cold uid at temperature T < T2 (and heat transfer coecient h ows perpendicular to the direction of ow of heat. Heat is lost to the cold uid in the direction perpendicular to heat ow due to conduction. Therefore heat transfer rate qx decreases with x. Fig. (2.1b) shows the qualitative temperature prole in this system. Extended surfaces are used to enhance heat transfer between a solid and an adjoining uid. For example, a n. Fins are commonly used in motors and engines to enhance heat transfer. Newtons law of cooling qconv = hA(Ts T ) suggests that heat transfer increase can be achieved by increasing the heat transfer 31

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES

Figure 2.1: (A) Schematic of an extended surface. (B) Extended surface temperature prole. coecient or by decreasing the cold uid temperature T . Both of these options may not be feasible in certain cases. Another method is to increase the total heat transfer surface area by the use of ns.

2.2

Fins

Use of nned surfaces, as shown in Fig. (2.2) facilitates larger heat transfer area. In order for the ns to minimize the temperature variations from its base to its tip, it should have large thermal conductivity. Fins are commonly used in cooling engines, transformers, lawn movers etc. In order to design ns, there is a need to obtain the temperature distribution along the n which requires the use of energy balance on the n.

2.2.1

General model

Consider a dierential element of thickness dx on one n as shown in Fig. (2.3). Assume heat transfer is 1-D, negligible radiation, no heat generation and uniform convection coecient. Under steady state conditions, the energy balance is given by qx = qx+dx + dqconv qx = qx + dqx dx + dqconv dx (2.1)

2.2. FINS

33

Figure 2.2: Schematic of four dierent types of ns.

Figure 2.3: Energy balance on an extended surface.

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES

Using Fouriers law, qx = kA dT and Newtons law of cooling, dqconv = dx hdAs (T T ) where As is the curved surface area and T is the temperature of the cold uid surrounding the n, we get d2 T + dx2 1 dAc Ac dx dT dx 1 h dAs Ac k dx (T T ) = 0 (2.2)

2.2.2

Fins of uniform cross-sectional area

If the cross-sectional area of conduction is constant, that is uniform crosssectional area n (Fig. 2.4), then Eq. (2.2) reduces to h dAs d2 T (T T ) = 0 dx2 kAc dx (2.3)

Figure 2.4: Straight n with uniform cross-section. The perimeter of the n at any position in x direction is given by s then For uniform cross-section n, if we assume P = dA dx d2 T hP (T T ) = 0 dx2 kAc
dAs . dx

(2.4)

The solution of the model equation (Eq. 2.4) will depend on the boundary conditions. Convection heat transfer boundary condition When subject to the boundary conditions (a) temperature at the n base is base temperature Tb , that is, T = Tb at x = 0 and (b) convection heat

2.2. FINS transfer at x = L, that is, hAc (T (L) T ) = kAc dT | is dx x=L cosh[m(L x)] + = b cosh(mL) +
h mk h mk

35

sinh[m(L x)] sinh(mL)

(2.5)

hP where, = T T , b = Tb T and m = kA . c The temperature prole as a function of position obtained using Eq. (2.5) is shown in Fig. (2.5).

Figure 2.5: Temperature prole in the n with a convection heat transfer boundary condition at x = L.

No ux boundary condition With no ux boundary conditions at x = L, that is, to Eq. (2.3) is cosh[m(L x)] = b cosh(mL)
d | dx x=L

= 0, the solution

(2.6)

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES

Constant temperature boundary conditions With constant boundary conditions at x = L, that is, (L) = L , the solution to Eq. (2.3) is = b Very long n In a very long n, as L , L = 0. The solution for Eq. (2.3) subject to this boundary condition is = exp(mx) b (2.8)
L b

sinh(mx) + sinh[m(L x)] sinh(mL) (2.7)

2.2.3

Overall heat transfer

Often in several applications, it is important to estimate the overall heat transferred by the n. Overall heat transfer can be estimated from the n heat transfer rate. The rate at which heat is transferred by convection from the n must equal the rate at which it is conducted through the n base, that is qf = qb = kAc dT |x=0 dx (2.9)

Note that the rate estimated using Eq. (2.9) will be equal to the rate obtained by integrating the dierential convective heat transfer law, that is, Newtons law over the entire surface area of convection, that is, qf =
As

h(T T )dAs

(2.10)

Convection boundary condition The heat transfer rate with convection boundary condition at x = L is qf =
h sinh(mL) + mk cosh(mL) hP kAc b h cosh(mL) + mk sinh(mL)

(2.11)

2.3. FIN PERFORMANCE No ux boundary condition The heat transfer rate with no ux boundary conditions at x = L is qf = hP kAc b tanh(mL)

37

(2.12)

Constant boundary condition The heat transfer rate with constant boundary condition at x = L is qf = Very long n The heat transfer rate for a very long n is qf = hP kAc b (2.14) hP kAc b cosh(mL) sinh(mL)
L b

(2.13)

2.3

Fin Performance

Fins are used to improve the heat transfer. However, ns oer resistance due to conduction. Therefore it is important to know the eectiveness, eciency of the n.

2.3.1

Eectiveness

The eectiveness of a n is dened as the ratio of the rate of heat transfer by the n and the rate of heat transfer if there were no n. The eectiveness, f is given by
f

F in heat transf er qf = hAc,b b Rate of heat transf er without a f in

(2.15)

where, Ac,b is the n cross-sectional area at the base. As a rule of thumb, for maximizing heat transfer, it is better to choose ns with eectiveness, f as large as possible, preferably 2. Eectiveness, f can be increased by using high thermal conductivity material and also by increasing the ratio of perimeter to cross-sectional area. Moreover, ns are needed when the heat transfer coecient is small. Therefore, use of ns are most justied when the uid is a gas, and when it is free convection.

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES

2.3.2

Resistance
b = qf 1 f hAc,b

The resistance oered by a n is given by Rt,f = Note that

(2.16)

= Rt,bulk is the resistance oered due to convection. Hence, Rt,f = Rt,b

Rt,b Rt,f

(2.17)

that is, ratio of thermal resistances.

2.3.3

Eciency

Fin eciency is dened as the ratio of n heat transfer rate to the maximum heat transfer that can be achieved by the n. Maximum n heat transfer is achieved when the whole ne is at the base temperature b . Fin eciency, f can then be written as f = qf qf = hAf b qm ax (2.18)

For uniform cross-section n and adiabatic tip, f = m tanh mL tanh mL = hP Lb mL (2.19)

It is evident from Eq. (2.19) that as L 0, f 0 and L , f 0.

2.4

Fins of non-uniform cross-sectional area

Consider the annular n presented in Fig. (2.6). The area of conduction is a function of the radial position, that is Ac = 2rt where r and t are the c = 2t. representative radius in the n and n thickness. Therefore dA dr Assuming t to be small, the area available for heat transfer from the n to surroundings by convection is
2 As = 2 (r2 r1 )

dAs = 4r dr

(2.20)

2.4. FINS OF NON-UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA

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Figure 2.6: Schematic of an annular n. The model equation for this extended surface is 1 dT 2h d2 T + (T T ) = 0 2 dr r dr kl (2.21)

h Assuming = T Tinf ty and m2 = 2 , the model Eq (2.20) subject to the kt d boundary conditions = thetab and dr |r2 = 0 will give the following solution to Eq. (2.21):

I0 (mr)K1 (mr2 ) + K0 (mr)I1 (mr2 ) = b I0 (mr1 )K1 (mr2 ) + K0 (mr1 )I1 (mr2 ) where, I0 and K0 are the modied Bessel functions of order zero. Fin heat transfer rate is given by qf = kAc,b qf = 2kr1 tb m dT dT |r=r1 = k (2rt) |r=r1 dr dr

(2.22)

(2.23) (2.24)

K1 (mr1 )I1 (mr2 ) I1 (mr1 )K1 (mr2 ) K0 (mr1 )I1 (mr2 ) + I0 (mr1 )K1 (mr2 )

Eciency of the annular n is f =

qf 2r1 K1 (mr1 )I1 (mr2 ) I1 (mr1 )K1 (mr2 ) = 2 2 2 r1 )hb m(r2 r1 ) K0 (mr1 )I1 (mr2 ) + I0 (mr1 )K1 (mr2 ) (2.25)

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES

2.5

Array of ns: Overall surface eciency

In several applications, many ns are placed in an array to enhance the heat transfer rate, for example, a stack of several ns with S being the spacing between the ns. Overall surface eciency is dened for an array of N ns and is given by qt qt = (2.26) 0 = qmax hAt b where, qt is the total heat transfer rate from the overall surface, that is ns and the exposed base area, put together. At = N Af + Ab (2.27)

where, Af is the total individual n area and Ab is the total exposed base area. The total heat transfer rate is qt = N f hAf b + hAb b is gt = hAT 1 (2.28)

Rearranging Eq. (2.28) and using Eq. (2.27), the total heat transfer rate N Af (1 f ) b At (2.29)

Using Eq. (2.29), the overall eciency can be written as 0 = 1 N Af (1 f ) At (2.30)

2.5.1

Overall n thermal resistance

Fin oers resistance to heat ow. Hence, ns can have certain thermal resistance dened by b q = (2.31) Rt,0 = qt 0 hAt Thermal resistance network for extended surface can be constructed. If base and n are same connected material, Fig. (2.7a) shows the thermal resistance network along with the associated thermal resistances. If the base and n are dierent materials, then the contact between the two materials can also oer certain resistance, as shown in Fig. (2.7b).

2.5. ARRAY OF FINS: OVERALL SURFACE EFFICIENCY

41

Figure 2.7: Overall n thermal resistance.

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CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTION IN EXTENDED SURFACES