CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN FIN

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN FIN

OBJECTIVE Study of heat transfer from a pin fin AIM 1. 2. To study the temperature distribution along the length of a pin fin under free and forced convection heat transfer conditions To determine fin efficiency

INTRODUCTION Extended surfaces or fins are used to increase the heat transfer rate from a surface to a fluid wherever it is not possible to increase the value of the surface heat transfer coefficient or the temperature difference between the surface and the fluid. The use of this is very common and they are fabricated in a variety of shapes. Circumferential fins around the cylinder of a motorcycle engine and fins attached to condenser tubes of a refrigerator are few familiar examples. DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS The apparatus consists of a test section in the form of a rectangular duct containing a pin-fin. There is provision for heating the surface of the fin. The power dissipated is obtained by measuring the potential drop across the heater terminals and the current. A variable transformer allows continuous adjustment of heater power which can be estimated from voltage and current measurements (recorded using digital voltmeter and ammeter respectively). Air is supplied to the test section using a blower. An orifice fitted with a U-tube manometer is used to measure flow rate of air through the duct. Five RTD sensors are embedded on the surface of the fin to measure surface temperatures. In addition one more RTD sensor facilitates measurement of air temperature through the duct. The sensor output is recorded using a digital temperature indicator with multi-channel switch. UTILITIES REQUIRED Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, 5 Amps.
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE PART A: NATURAL CONVECTION 1. Switch on the main power supply to the set-up. Start heating the fin by switching on the heater element and adjust the voltage to some desired value (may be set prior to the start of the experiment). Observe the readings on the 5 temperature sensors attached to the fin surface. Allow the system to reach steady state. 2. 3. When steady state is reached, record the readings of temperature sensors (nos. 1 5). Also note the fluid temperature reading indicated by sensor no. 6. Repeat the same experiment at different voltages if possible (consult the instructor on this). PART B: FORCED CONVECTION 1. For the same test voltage in Part A, start the blower allowing air to flow over the pin fin. Ensure that the fly-valve at the outlet of the test section is fully open. Observe the readings on the 5 temperature sensors attached to the fin surface. Allow the system to reach steady state. 2. When steady state is reached, record the readings of temperature sensors (Nos. 1 5). Also note the fluid temperature reading indicated by sensor no. 6. SPECIFICATIONS Duct size Diameter of the fin Length of the fin Diameter of the orifice Internal diameter of the delivery pipe : : : : : 1000 mm x 150 mm x 100 mm 12.7 mm 125 mm 26 mm 52 mm 0.64 110 W/m.K

Coefficient of discharge (Orifice meter) Cd : Thermal conductivity of fin material (Brass) :

Manometric fluid is water with density m = 1000 kg/m3 Temperature Sensor No.6 reads ambient temperature in the inside of the duct. OBSERVATIONS 1. 2. Voltmeter reading: Ammeter reading: ______ V ______ A
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HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

t1 Experiment Free convection Forced convection DATA REDUCTION Area of fin (m2)
(x=2.5 cm)

Fin temperature, oC t2 t3 t4
(x=5.0 cm) (x=7.5 cm) (x=10.0 cm)

Air t5
(x=12.5 cm)

Manometer reading (cm)

temp. t6 (oC)

The cross sectional area A of the fin is evaluated using A = d2 /4 where d is the diameter of the fin Circumference of pin fin (m) Circumference P of pin fin is evaluated using P =d where d is the diameter of the fin Area of rectangular duct (m2) The cross sectional area Ad of the rectangular duct is evaluated from Ad = W H where W and H denote the width and height of the duct respectively Hydraulic diameter of duct (m) The hydraulic diameter of duct dh is computed using
dh =
HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

2 W H W +H
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

Mean temperature of the fluid (oC) The mean fluid, i.e. air temperature tm,f is evaluated thus

where ta = t6 (refer observation Table) Average temperature of fin (oC) The average temperature of fin is calculated using

Properties of air The thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat and density of air is evaluated at mean fluid temperature. 1.195 10 3 T 1.6 (W/m.K) = 118 + T
air = 1.488 10 T 118 + T
6 3 2

k air

Where T=tm,f

(N.s/m2)

c p,air = (1 + 2.5 10 10 T 3 ) 10 3

(J/kg.K)

air = (3.4833 10 2 )

Pair (kg/m3), (P is in bar) T

air air

air =

Manometric Head (m) The manometric head H is calculated using

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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

H m = R m 1 air

Where R denotes the manometer reading and m is the density of the manometric fluid.

CALCULATIONS FOR FREE CONVECTION The free convection heat transfer coefficient is evaluated from
Nu = hd k air

The Nusselt number Nu is calculated using Nu = 0.53 (Gr Pr)1/4 where Gr and Pr denote the Grashof and Prandtl numbers respectively. The same is computed using
gTd 3 2 air

Gr =

c P,air air Pr = k air

g is the acceleration due to gravity

is the coefficient of volume expansion (1/K) and is computed using 1 / Tm,f

T = tav,fin - ta

Calculation of fin efficiency The fin efficiency is computed using

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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

f =

tanh(mL) mL

where L is the fin length The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from
m= hP kA

TEMPERATURE PLOT Theoretical temperature profile within the fin

T ( x) Tm, f T1 Tm , f = cosh m( L x) cosh mL

CALCULATIONS FOR FORCED CONVECTION

The mass flowrate of air mair to the test section is calculated from m air = air AoVo

where Vo is the air velocity in m/s through the orifice. The same is evaluated using
Vo = C 2 gH m d 1 o d i
4

where do and di denote the orifice diameter and internal diameter of the delivery pipe respectively The test section velocity Vt is computed using
d V t = Vo o d h
2

Tm,f T o

where dh denotes the duct hydraulic diameter. To denotes the thermodynamic temperature at the exit of the orifice, i.e. ambient The Reynolds number (Re) of the fluid in the duct is evaluated from

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

Gd Re = h air

where the mass flux or mass velocity G of air is

G = airV t

The forced convection heat transfer coefficient is now evaluated using

Nu = hd k air

The Nusselt number Nu in the above equation is calculated using Nu = C (Re)mPr1/3 Where C = 0.911, m = 0.385, for 4 < Re <40, C = 0.683, m = 0.466 for 40 < Re < 4000, and C = 0.193, m = 0.618 for 4000 < Re < 40000. Calculation of fin efficiency The fin efficiency is computed using
f = tanh(mL) mL

where L is the fin length The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from
m= hP kA

CALCULATION OF FIN EFFECTIVENESS For the case of natural and forced convection, the fin effectiveness is computed using
= Fin surface area Fin base area

The base area of the fin is the same as cross sectional area.

NOMENCLATURE:
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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

A Ad cp,air C d dh do g G Gr h H Hm I k kair L m Nu P Pr R tav,fin tm,f T To Tm,f V Vt Vo W

Cross sectional area of fin Cross sectional area of duct Specific heat capacity of air Coefficient of orifice Fin diameter Hydraulic diameter of the duct Diameter of orifice Acceleration due to gravity Mass velocity Grashof number Heat transfer coefficient Height of rectangular duct Manometer Head Ammeter reading Thermal conductivity thermal conductivity of air Fin length. Fin parameter Nusselt number Fin perimeter Prandtl number Manometer Reading Average fin temperature in Celsius Mean fluid temperature in Celsius Thermodynamic temperature Thermodynamic temperature of air at the exit of the orifice Thermodynamic mean temperature of the fluid. Voltmeter reading Velocity of air through the duct Velocity of air through the orifice Width of rectangular duct Fin effectiveness Dynamic viscosity of air Absolute viscosity of air Density of air
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air air air

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CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GROUP

Density of manometric fluid

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS 1. Use stable AC Single phase supply only. 2. Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches given on the panel are in OFF position. 3. Regulate and change voltage supply to the heater in a slow manner. 4. Never run the apparatus if supply voltage is less than 180 volts and above than 240 volts. 5. Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently. 6. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.

REFERENCES 1. 2. Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, 9th edition, McGraw Hill, NY, 2004 Incropera, F. P. and Dewitt, D. P., Heat and Mass transfer, 5th Edition, 2002 ********************

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

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