1

Extended Heat Transfer-I

x
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
Extended Heat Transfer-II
Addition of fins reduce convective resistance by
increasing A
hA
1
R
conv
=
Heat transfer by addition of surface area is called
extended heat transfer or fin heat transfer
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
In general, let the fin be of varying cross
section as shown
dx
dT
kA x
dx
dT
kA
dx
d
dx
dT
kA |

\
|
+
) T T ( x hP

x
In steady state, heat in should be equal to heat out
0 ) T T ( x hP x
dx
dT
kA
dx
d
dx
dT
kA
dx
dT
kA =
(

\
|
+

In out
out
x
Governing equations for Fins-II
0 ) T T ( hP
dx
dT
kA
dx
d
= |

\
|

If k of the fin is constant, then,

0 ) T T (
k
hP
dx
dT
A
dx
d
= |

\
|

If the fin is prismatic, then, A is independent of x

0 ) T T (
kA
hP
dx
T d
2
2
=

Defining (T-T

) = , and (hP/kA) = m
2
, we have
0 m
dx
d
2
2
2
=

Governing equations for Fins-III

The governing equation is a second order differential
equation and its solution can be expressed as
mx
2
mx
1
e C e C

+ =
The Boundary condition for the above equation is
usually idealized conditions
At the base of the fin, the temperature is usually
specified as T
b
0 x at T T
b b
= = =

The commonly used boundary condition at the tip is
what is known as insulated tip boundary
Governing equations for Fins-IV
This is expressed as
L x at 0
dx
d
0
dx
dT
= =

=
Boundary condition at x = 0, gives
2 1 b
C C + =
Boundary condition at x = L, gives
mL
2
mL
1
e ) m ( C me C 0

+ =
mL
1 b
mL
1
e ) C ( e C 0

=
mL mL
mL
b 1
e e
e
C

+
=
mL mL
mL
b b 1 b 2
e e
e
C C

+
= =
2
Governing equations for Fins-V
mL mL
mL
b 2
e e
e
C

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

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

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

=
Fins
Fin Heat Transfer -I
mL cosh
) x L ( m cosh
b

=
We Studied the case of Fin with insulated tip and
obtained the solution as
0
1
b

mL
1
2
3
4
The parameter mL is non-dimensional
and decides the character of the fin
mL=1 is kind of under-designed fin and mL=5 will
be a over designed fin with material waste, mL=3 is
considered a good number for fin design
Let us get more information by obtaining the total
heat transfered
Fin Heat Transfer -II
Total heat transferred by the fin is given by
0 x 0 x
dx
d
kA
dx
dT
kA q
= =

= =
( )
mL cosh
) m ( ) x L ( m Sinh
dx
d
b

=

) mL ( mTanh
) mL cosh(
) mL ( Sinh
m
dx
d
b b
0 x
= =

=
) mL ( Tanh
kA
hP
kA ) mL ( mTanh kA
dx
d
kA
b b
0 x
= =

=
) mL ( Tanh hPkA q
b
=
hPkA
q
b

mL=3
mL
0
1
0.995
Fin Heat Transfer -II
As the boundary conditions are modified, or
variable area fins are concerned, the subject gets
more complicated and will be left to specialists
However, to help non-specialists use complex
results and interpret them, some simple parameters
are defined.
The first one is fin effectiveness
f
fin without
fin with
f
q
q
fin without d transferre Heat
fin with d transferre Heat
= =
For the case we have analysed
) mL ( Tanh
hA
kP
hA
) mL ( Tanh hPkA
b
b
f
=

=
Another measure used is the fin efficiency
f
Fin Heat Transfer -III
e temperatur base at fin entire with d transferre Heat
fin with d transferre Heat
f
=
mL
) mL ( Tanh
L
) mL ( Tanh
hP
kA
hPL
) mL ( Tanh hPkA
b
b
f
= =

=
The value of
f
is generally dependent on the
non-dimensional parameter mL and expressions
are available for complex geometries.
The definitions of P and A have to be carefully
understood. This you can do in the homework
3
Fin Heat Transfer -IV
The real interest in
engineering is not a
single fin but a fin array
such as the ones shown
Let us now define the following areas
A
uf
is the total area that is not finned (unfinned)
A
f
is the each fin surface area (perimeter x Length)
Heat transferred by the fins can be given by
f b f f b f
NhA NhPL q = =
Fin Heat Transfer -V
Heat transferred by the unfinned area
b uf uf
hA q =
Total Heat transferred
b uf f b f uf f t
hA NhA q q q + = + =
In terms of electrical analogy
b

uf
hA
1
uf
q
f
q
t
q
f f
NhA
1

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
b

uf
hA
1
uf
q
f
q t
q
f f
NhA
1

cf
NA
R