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Experiment 3: Extended Surface Heat Transfer - Rectangular Fin

The document describes an experiment to study heat transfer through a rectangular aluminum fin. Key details include: 1) Temperature measurements were taken at various distances along the fin width and length under different heat inputs. 2) Dimensionless temperature and fin efficiency were calculated and compared to theoretical predictions. 3) Fin efficiency was found to increase from 41% to 50% as heat input increased, indicating better heat transfer performance.

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SAMARTH TIWARI
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
231 views8 pages

Experiment 3: Extended Surface Heat Transfer - Rectangular Fin

The document describes an experiment to study heat transfer through a rectangular aluminum fin. Key details include: 1) Temperature measurements were taken at various distances along the fin width and length under different heat inputs. 2) Dimensionless temperature and fin efficiency were calculated and compared to theoretical predictions. 3) Fin efficiency was found to increase from 41% to 50% as heat input increased, indicating better heat transfer performance.

Uploaded by

SAMARTH TIWARI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Trinika

2017B3A40698P

Experiment 3: Extended Surface Heat Transfer -Rectangular Fin

Objective: To study heat transfer through extended surface i.e. rectangular fin.

Apparatus Required: Heating element, thin rectangular fin (Aluminum plate), heat
source, thermocouple, dimmer stat, voltmeter (for V), ammeter (for I), temperature
indicator

Theory:
Fins are extended surfaces attached to bodies to increase effective heat transfer surface
area and hence increase heat flow. For a fin of uniform cross-section with negligible heat
loss from the end of the fin the heat conducted into the fin at its base equals heat loss
from the entire surface of the fin.
Heat flow:

q = -k A (dT/dx)|x=0 = m(Ts - T∞) tanh(mL)


Where m = (hP / kA)1/2

Dimensionless temperature:
θ / θb = (T - T∞) / (Ts - T∞) = cosh(m(L - x)/cosh(mL)

Fin efficiency:
nf = tanh(mL) / mL
T ∞=Surrounding temperature
K = Thermal Conductivity
h = Heat transfer coefficient
Ts = Surface Temperature
T = Temperature at a given point

Assumptions –
1. Steady State Condition.
2. 1-D Radial Heat Conduction.
3. k, ρ and Cp are constant with respect to temperature and space.

4. h is combined heat transfer coefficient for convection and radiation.


5. Assume tip to be insulated.

Precautions:

 Wait until steady state is achieved (Temperature values stop fluctuating).


 Ensure that heat input is maintained constant through a set of observations

Data
Fin Material = Aluminum Fin
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

Thermal conductivity of Aluminum = 237

W/mK Fin Dimension Length L= 400 mm

Width= 320mm

Thickness= 3 mm
Room temperature= 31 °C
Area of cross-section of the fin, Acs = 960 mm2
Surface area of the fin, As = 258400 mm2
Parameter of cross-sectional area of the fin, P = 646 mm

Table 1
Base Temperature Tb= 46 °C
Study state fin temperature for electric input = Voltage (V) x Current (A) =67x0.3= 20.1W

Sr. no. Distance Temperature at points along width of fin Average


from base Temperature
of fin, x 1 2 3 4 5
Unit> mm (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

1. 10 42.2 42.3 42.3 42.7 42.1 42.32


2. 110 38.9 38.8 38.7 38.7 38.7 38.76
3. 210 36.2 36.0 36.0 36.0 36.0 36.04
4. 310 35.1 35.1 35.0 35.2 35.1 35.1

Sr. no. Distance from x/L T −T ∞ T −T ∞


base of fin, x(mm) ( T b−T ∞ )
exp
( T b−T ∞ )
th

1. 10 0.025 0.75 0.94


2. 110 0.275 0.52 0.53
3. 210 0.525 0.34 0.31
4. 310 0.775 0.27 0.21

h : 12.63 W/m2K

q f tanh ( mL )
Fin Efficiency η f : = mL = 0.41
qmax
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

Fig1: Variation of Temperature with distance


1
0.9
Normalized temperature

0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900
Normalized Distance

Experimental Theoretical

Table 2
Base Temperature Tb= 57.1 °C

Study state fin temperature for electric input = Voltage (V) x Current (A) =78x0.35= 27.3W
Sr. no. Distance Temperature at points along width of fin Average
from base Temperature
of fin, x
1 2 3 4 5
Unit> mm (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

1. 10 47.4 47.8 47.6 48.2 47.6 47.72


2. 110 43.3 43.0 43.3 43.3 43.3 43.24
3. 210 40.6 40.6 40.6 40.9 40.8 40.7
4. 310 39.2 39.2 39.2 39.2 39.2 39.2

Sr. no. Distance from x/L T −T ∞ T −T ∞


base of fin, x(mm) ( T b−T ∞ )
exp ( T b−T ∞ )
th

1. 10 0.025 0.64 0.96


2. 110 0.275 0.47 0.62
3. 210 0.525 0.37 0.42
4. 310 0.775 0.31 0.32

h : 7.96 W/m2K

q f tanh ( mL )
Fin Efficiency η f : = mL = 0.50
qmax
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

Fig2: Variation of Temperature with distance


1.2

1
Normalized temperature

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900
Normalized Distance

Experimental Theoretical

Table 3

Base Temperature Tb= 86.3 °C

Study state fin temperature for electric input = Voltage (V) x Current (A) = 99x0.45=44.55W

Sr. no. Distance Temperature at points along width of fin Average


from base Temperature
of fin, x
1 2 3 4 5
Unit> mm (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

1. 10 59.5 60.2 60.3 61.2 59.9 60.22


2. 110 52.9 52.7 53.1 52.9 52.9 52.9
3. 210 48.6 48.7 48.4 48.9 48.5 48.62
4. 310 46.2 46.2 46.2 46.2 46.2 46.2

Sr. no. Distance from x/L T −T ∞ T −T ∞


base of fin, x(mm) ( T b−T ∞ )exp
( T b−T ∞ )
th

1. 10 0.025 0.53 0.97


2. 110 0.275 0.39 0.69
3. 210 0.525 0.32 0.53
4. 310 0.775 0.27 0.44

h : 5.13 W/mK

q f tanh ( mL )
Fin Efficiency η f : = mL = 0.59
qmax
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

Fig3: Variation of Temperature with distance


1.2
Normalized Temperature

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900
Normalized Distance

Experimental Theoretical

Table 4
Base Temperature Tb=102.2 °C
Study state fin temperature for electric input = Voltage (V) x Current (A) =124x0.55=68.2W

Sr. no. Distance Temperature at points along width of fin Average


from base Temperature
of fin, x
1 2 3 4 5
Unit> mm (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)

1. 10 75.4 76.4 76.4 77.8 76.4 76.48


2. 110 64.8 64.7 64.8 64.9 64.9 64.82
3. 210 58.2 58.2 58.3 58.3 58.2 58.24
4. 310 54.9 54.8 54.9 54.9 54.9 54.88

Sr. no. Distance from x/L T −T ∞ T −T ∞


base of fin, x(mm) ( T b−T ∞ )
exp
( T b−T ∞ )
th

1. 10 0.025 0.64 0.96


2. 110 0.275 0.48 0.65
3. 210 0.525 0.38 0.46
4. 310 0.775 0.34 0.36

h : 6.248 W/mK

q f tanh ( mL )
Fin Efficiency η f : = mL = 0.53
qmax
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

Fig4: Variation of Temperature with distance


1.2

1
Normalized Temperatue

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900
Normalized Distance

Experimental Theoretical

Table 5

Fig1: Variation of Temperature with distance


90.0

80.0

70.0 f(x) = − 0.07 x + 75.03


Reading 1
Temperature (Celcius)

60.0
Linear (Reading 1)
f(x) = − 0.05 x + 59.4
50.0 Reading 2
Linear (Reading 2)
f(x) = − 0.03 x + 47.21
40.0 Reading 3
f(x) = − 0.02 x + 41.96
Linear (Reading 3)
30.0 Reading 4
Linear (Reading 4)
20.0

10.0

0.0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Distance (mm)

Results
Table 6

Sr. no. Heat Input q Tb ⅆT h m ηf


ⅆx
Units (W) (°C) (°C /m) (W/m2k) m-1
1. 20.1 46 -24.4 12.510 5.959 0.41
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

2. 27.3 57.1 -28.1 7.960 4.754 0.50


3. 44.55 83.3 -46.3 5.131 3.817 0.59
4. 68.2 102.2 -71.4 6.834 4.405 0.53

1) The fin efficiency from the reading come out to be 0.41, 0.50, 0.59 0.53 for the respective readings.
2) The average convective heat transfer coefficient comes out to be 8.108 W/m2k.
3) If we compare the experimental and theoretical temperature profiles, the theoretical plots are steeper
than the experimental plots. This discrepancy may be due to the following reasons:
 Steady State has not been achieved completely
 Experimental uncertainties
 Heat Transfer through the support which has not been accounted for
 Assumption of 1-D Heat transfer

Exercises:
1) All graphs plotted above next to their respective table
2) Average Convective heat transfer coefficient is 8.108 W/m2k.
3) Done for each, refer results
4) Done for each, refer to Results

Questions:

Q1) Define fin efficiency.


qf
Ans) η f :
qmax
Fin efficiency is defined as the actual heat transfer rate from the fin divided by the Ideal heat transfer rate
from the fin.

Q2) Enumerate the assumptions made in carrying out the experiment.


 Assume to be 1-Dimensional heat conduction (Along Y direction)
 Steady state condition to be taken.
 h is combined heat transfer coefficient for convection and radiation.
 Thermal conductivity is constant.
 Assume tip to be insulated.
 Adiabatic heat condition

Q3) Does the addition of fins to a surface always increase the heat transfer? Find the limiting condition.
Ans) When we add fins to a surface, it does not always increase the heat transfer. If heat transfer
coefficient is very high, then addition of fins reduces the rate of heat transfer, as they will start reducing
the total area for heat transfer. Also, if they are placed too near to each other, again the heat transfer rate
reduces.
It is defined as the ration between heat transfer rate with fin and the heat transfer rate without fin. If ε is
the fin effectiveness, there are 3 cases
(i) ε= 1 : Fin does not affect the heat transfer at all.
(ii) ε < 1 : Fin act as insulation (if thermal conductivity (k) of fin material is low) .
(iii) ε > 1 : Heat transfer will be increased.
Trinika
2017B3A40698P

We will prefer fins when the 3rd case is valid.

Q4) Under what conditions of a fin of given volume gives maximum heat transfer?
A fin of given volume gives maximum heat transfer when it will have maximum area for heat transfer.
1
1) ε α
√h
2¿ε α √ k
P
3)ε α

AC
For fixed volume, heat transfer rate increases when we decrease h, increase k (by using a better material)
or increasing the lateral surface area.

Q5) What will be the effect of considering the fin thickness ‘t’ in the calculation of h.
Ans) If we consider the thickness of the fin, it plays a part in calculation of h as it is a part of the Cross-
Sectional area A in the equation as well in m.
q=√ hPk A C tanh ( mL)
Hence, if we increase thickness, value of h will decrease and if we decrease the thickness, value of h will
increase.

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