EXPERIMENT #3

HEAT TRANSFER FROM FINS

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this experiment is to study the rate of heat transfer from fins by comparing
experimental temperature measurements with expected values from theory for three different
types of boundary conditions. The concepts of fin efficiency and fin effectiveness will also be
practically examined.

INTRODUCTION:

In engineering it is sometimes a necessity to enhance the transfer of heat to achieve desired

results. For example, consider an air-cooled engine that is constantly generating heat by the
combustion process. Heat must be transferred at a high enough rate to keep temperatures below
those which may cause deformation or melting of the engine components. To do this, engineers
make use of structures called fins.

Fins are extensions or appendages that are attached to the base of a structure and extend into the
surrounding fluid. They increase heat transfer by increasing the total surface area where
convection occurs. Fins can be found in almost any mechanism or structure that generates a large
amount of heat and is subject to component damage from high temperatures. We know them
commonly to be used for cooling engine heads in lawn mowers and motorcycles, as well as
amplifiers, transformers and electronic chips where electrical components produce heat. Fins are
classified into two categories based on their geometry - fins of uniform cross-section and those of
non-uniform cross-section. A rectangular fin and a pin fin are examples of fins of uniform cross-
section. A triangular fin and an annular fin are examples of fins on non-uniform cross-section.

In this experiment, we will use three stainless steel rectangular fins (uniform cross-section). Each
of these three fins has a different length and is subject to a different boundary condition at the tip.

THEORY:

For the analysis to be less complicated, we must make some assumptions. First, we assume that
the fin temperature distribution is one dimensional and depends only on the distance x from the
fin base; that is, T = T ( x ) (See Figure 1). Temperature must drop along the fin because of the
convection heat loss. Secondly, we assume that the convection heat transfer coefficient h is
constant along the fin and has a value of 9 W/m2·K. This is based on the value for natural
convection in air. We also assume that the base temperature (where x = 0) is the same as the wall
temperature of the main structure. And finally we assume that the temperature distribution is the
steady state temperature distribution.

In reality the temperature of the fin is somewhat two-dimensional, the convection coefficient is
not constant, and the temperature of the base is not the same as the main structure. Figure 1 on the
following page shows the difference between reality and the simplified analysis. Although we
make several assumptions to simplify the problem, these assumptions are reasonably accurate in
most circumstances and should result in only small deviations from the theoretical solution.
 Figure 1: Simplified and Actual Fin Analysis [2]

In order to solve for the temperature distribution along the fin, we can apply a steady-state energy
balance to a differential volume element of a fin at location x with length dx, cross-sectional area
Ac , and perimeter P. From the derivation on p. 157 of your textbook we arrive at a second-order
differential equation that describes one-dimensional temperature distribution along a constant
cross-section
fin:

d 2 θ hP
− θ=0 (1)
dx 2 kAc

where k is the thermal conductivity of the fin material and θ is the temperature excess, defined
as the difference between the fin temperature at any location x and the temperature of the
surroundings ( θ( x ) = T ( x ) − T∞ ). Our goal would be solve for θ as a function of x.

The general solution to this equation can be written in terms of hyperbolic or exponential
hP
functions of x and m, where m2 = . The general solution is
kAc
 θ( x ) = C 1 e mx + C 2 e − mx (or )C 3 cosh mx + C 4 sinh mx (2)

where the pairs C1 and C2 or C3,C4 represent the two constants which must be determined in
order to obtain a specific solution to the equation, and L is the overall length of the fin.

Because this system is represented by a second-order differential equation, obtaining a specific

solution (that is, solving for the two arbitrary constants) requires the application of two boundary
conditions. For our purposes, the first boundary condition will be the same for all fins – the
temperature of the base of the fin is specified to be equal to the temperature Tb of the structure
wall, so that at the fin base the boundary condition is:

θ(0) = θ b = Tb − T∞ . (3)

The second boundary condition will vary for each of the fins in use. For the shortest fin, applying
the convection boundary condition results in the following equation:

k  dθ 
θ( L) = −   (4)
h  dx  x = L

and the specific solution to the fin equation using the above two boundary conditions becomes

 h 
cosh m ( L − x ) +   sinh m ( L − x )
θ( x ) = θ b  mk 
. (5)
 h 
cosh mL +   sinh mL
 mk 
For the medium-length fin, which has its tip embedded in an ice bath, we apply the prescribed
temperature boundary condition

θ( L) = θ L = Tice − T∞ (6)

to obtain the specific solution using the boundary conditions in (3) and (6)

θ L sinh mx + θ b sinh m ( L − x )
θ( x ) = . (7)
sinh mL

For the long fin, we make the assumption that the fin has infinite length, so that the fin tip is at
the same temperature as the surroundings. The infinitely long fin boundary condition is

θ( L) = T L − T∞ = 0 (8)

and the specific solution to the fin equation using the boundary conditions in (3) and (8) is given
by
 θ( x) = θ b e − mx . (9)

Now that the temperature distributions have been found for each of the different boundary
conditions at the tip of the fin, we may use Fourier’s law at the base of the fin to determine the
total heat transfer rate removed by the fin as:

 dT   dθ 
q fin = −kAc   = −kAc   (10)
 dx  x =0  dx  x =0
Using equations (5), (7) and (9) along with equation (10) we obtain the following heat transfer
rates for convection at the tip, prescribed temperature at the tip, and an infinitely long fin,
respectively:

 h 
sinh mL +   cosh mL
q fin = hPkAc θ b  mk  (11)
 h 
cosh mL +   sinh mL
 mk 

θ b cosh mL − θ L
q fin = hPkAc (12)
sinh mL

q fin = hPkAc θ b . (13)

Now that we have expressions for the heat transfer rates we would like to be able to compare the
fins with ideal cases. To do so we need to define fin efficiency. Although fin efficiency may be
new, the general concept of efficiency is probably quite familiar to you from thermodynamics. In
general efficiency is the ratio between the actual outcome and the ideal outcome, as in heat
engines. Fin efficiency ηf is the ratio of the actual heat transfer rate from the fin to the ideal heat
transfer rate of the fin, which occurs when the entire fin is perfectly conductive and is therefore
maintained at the base temperature. Fin efficiency, then, is given by

q fin
ηf = (14)
hA f θ b

where Af is the total surface area of the fin.

Finally, we are interested in finding out how much heat transfer is gained by adding these fins to
our system. To do this, we introduce the concept of fin effectiveness εf, which is the ratio of the
actual heat transfer rate from the fin to the heat transfer rate that would occur at the base area if
the fin was not present. The expression for fin effectiveness is

q fin
εf = . (15)
hAc θ b
You will use one of the two experimental modules – Module 1 or Module 2.

APPARATUS:

Module 1: The apparatus used in this experiment (Figure 2a) consists of a steel container which
has three stainless steel fins of different lengths fixed to one wall. The steel container is filled
with hot water during the experiment. The medium-length fin has its tip embedded into a plastic
container, which is filled with ice during the experiment.

Module 2: The apparatus used in this experiment (Figure 2b) consists of a well-insulated CPVC
container which has three stainless steel fins. The fins are of different lengths; located 90º from
each other. The CPVC container is filled with hot water during the experiment. The medium-
length fin has its external tip embedded into a PVC pipe, which is filled with ice water during the
experiment.

Each of the fins is equipped with a series of thermocouples, which record the temperature at
various locations along each of the fins and transmit the data to a desktop computer via the
accompanying TempScan data acquisition system (Figure 3). The data acquisition system is also
equipped with thermocouples to monitor the temperatures of the wall of the steel container and
the ice water bath, as well as the ambient temperature in the laboratory.

Figure 2a: Module 1: Fin Apparatus (Note that the hot plate has been replaced by a tea kettle)
 Figure 2b: Module 2: Fin Apparatus

Figure 3: Data Acquisition System and Desktop Computer

PROCEDURE:

1. (Module 2 only) Close both drain valves by turning red knobs clockwise.
2. Fill water upto indicated maximum level in the tea kettle. Heat water to boiling in the tea
kettle. The water will take approximately 5-10 minutes to achieve the proper temperature
(Kettle tab will click).
3. Measure the height, length and thickness of the fins with digital calipers and record the
dimensions. Also measure the distance between the thermocouples starting from the base
of the fin.
4. Power on the TempScan acquisition system by pressing the push-button located on the
back of the instrument.
5. Open the ChartView software by going to <Start><Programs><ChartView>
<ChartView>. A dialog box will appear in which you should select <File><Open>, then
to select the configuration file ME314Exp3v1(for Module 1) or ME314Exp3v2 (for
Module 2). This file stores the settings for the configuration of the data acquisition and is
located in C:\Program Files\Chartview.
6. In the Digital Meters window, you may press the Play button to begin viewing the
temperatures measured by the thermocouples. However, the data is not yet being
recorded. Check that all thermocouples are reading properly. Each thermocouple is
labeled numerically in ChartView with 1 beginning at the base of the fins.
7. Just before the hot water reaches boiling point (about 5 minutes), fill the plastic (Module
1) or PVC container (Module 2) with ice.
8. When the hot water has reached a rolling boil:
(a) Module 1- Pour the hot water into the steel container and immediately cover the
container with the provided insulation.
(b) Module 2- Pour the water into the CPVC container and immediately cover the
container with the provided CPVC cap. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN CAP.
9. Record the time now and begin recording the temperatures by selecting Arm Acquisition
under the Acquire menu, and then click Trigger the Instrument in the popup window.
10. Monitor the temperatures at each of the thermocouples on the Digital Meters. Note the
fall in temperature along with length of the fin.
11. The program will collect temperature data for twenty minutes, giving you enough time
for the system to reach steady state conditions. Record the time when the temperatures
appear to be steady.
After 34 minutes, the program will then automatically write the recorded data to a text file. (This
file can be located at C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Desktop\ASCII\chartv.txt.) The
flashing green on ‘Disk’ will stop flashing and change to gray once the data is all written into the
text file. CAUTION: Do not stop of the program before this. If you do that you will lose all the
recorded data. Make sure the monitor display is on by moving the mouse once in a while. You
will need to save the text file to your flash-drive or email it to yourself so you can access it later
for your calculations and report.
12. (a) Module 1 – Pour water and ice out of the containers into the sink while carefully
ensuring no spillage on the wires or other portions of the data acquisition system.
(b) Module 2 - Position drain over sink and turn red knobs counter-clockwise to drain
the ice and water baths.
13. (Module 2 only) - Remove CPVC Cap and dry the insides of both containers
14. (Module 1 only) - Use paper towel to CAREFULLY dry out the two basins.
Results:
1. Plot your steady state temperature data vs. x for each fin in Microsoft Excel.
(Note: the location of the first thermocouple is not x=0, but a finite distance from
the base of the fin.)

Once you have added the trendline to each plot by hand, draw a line which is parallel to
the trendline at , making sure that you extend the line far enough to cross both axes
on your plot. You will use this line to determine the slope of the curve at
and use equation (10) to calculate the experimental value of .

[The reason you add a hand-drawn line is that the built-in Excel curve fit options won’t
work directly for this. If you wish to use excel to draw a line of best-fit you will need to
transform the variables (into θ and x) and use the method of least squares. Since this
requires a lot of effort, such an attempt is not required but will be awarded extra points
should you feel inclined to do so! However, a straight linear extrapolation from the
starting thermocouple location to x = 0 will lead you to incorrect results! Therefore you
can use the <Insert> <Shapes> <Curve> option to manually draw a line of best-fit
which can be edited and smoothed out as required by right-clicking it and selecting
<Edit Points> option once the basic curve is sketched]

2. Compare the temperature distributions (experimental and theoretical). Compare the fin
heat transfer rate (experimental and theoretical).
3. Calculate the percent error for each fin (the difference between experimental and
theoretical) and discuss your results.
4. Calculate the efficiency and effectiveness for each fin. Comment on any trends observed
in the efficiency and effectiveness with regards to fin length for the three cases, and
explain the reason for those trends.

SAFETY GUIDELINES:

1. To avoid burns, always use insulated gloves when handling the hot water container or
hotplate.
2. Keep the area around the data acquisition system and desktop computer dry at all times.

ASSIGNED READING

Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer; Incropera and DeWitt; pp. 137-150.
 APPENDIX – Data Acquisition Configuration Setup

Choose files ME314Exp3v2.cfg for Module 2 and ME314Exp3.cfg for Module 1.

Pull up Setup  Acquisition menu as shown below

The values under this should read as below. The number under Count should read as
2000 and post-trigger should be 1sec. This setting means that the thermocouple data will
be acquired at 1 Hz and there will be 2000 samples ≈ 34 minutes of data.

2000

Choose the Data Destination tab above and it should read as follows:
 C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Desktop

Make sure you see where the data is written. In this example, the data is written to
C:\Documents and Settings\your_username\Desktop base directory.

Finally to ensure that the time stamp gets written into the file, click on File Conversion
Preferences and choose the option “Add timestamps to ASCII Text files.”
Click OK and you are ready to monitor the temperatures and start the data acquisition.
 APPENDIX – Thermocouple Distance Information for both Module 1 and 2

Module 1
Thermocouple Location distance from hot reservoir (mm)
Fin Type Overall length (mm) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Long 153.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0 140.0
Medium 102.0 7.0 22.0 37.0 52.0 77.0 92.0
Short 52.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0

Module 2
Thermocouple Location distance from hot reservoir (mm)
Fin Type Overall length (mm) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Long 163.0 10.0 30.0 50.0 70.0 90.0 110.0 130.0 150.0
Medium 112.0 10.0 25.0 40.0 55.0 70.0 85.0 100.0
Short 62.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0