E3S Web of Conferences 91, 02009 ( 2019) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf /20199102009
TPACEE-2018

Heat transfer from the collective finning of pipes

in heat exchangers under asymmetric
boundary conditions
Andrey Aksenov1,*
1Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Yaroslavskoe shosse, 26, Moscow, 129337, Russia

Abstract. The solution of the problem of the heat flux from the surface of
collective finning at various temperatures of its ends is given. The obtained
analytical formulas allow giving a quantitative estimate of the influence of
the asymmetry of the boundary conditions on the heat transfer through the
finned heat exchange surface. Calculated dependencies can be used in the
design of high-efficiency heat exchangers for air conditioning, ventilation,
and heating systems. The presented results can be especially useful under
real operating conditions of heat exchange surfaces. This, in turn, ensures
the safe and reliable operation of the building's engineering systems as a
whole.

1 Introduction
In heat exchangers, where heat transfer occurs between gas and liquid media, finned heat
exchange surfaces are commonly used. Finning of heat-exchange surfaces allows
significantly increasing the intensity of heat transfer, developing compact high-efficiency
heat exchanging devices, which is especially important for air conditioning systems in which
all the heat produced must be transferred to the atmosphere according to the conditions of
their operation. Relatively low values of coefficients of heat transfer from the cooling surface
to air force to maximize the area of the heat exchange surfaces, which leads to an increase in
weight, size and consumption of the metal (mostly color) of these heat exchangers.
The finned heat exchange surfaces are widely used in boiler technology, heat supply
systems, ventilation units, air conditioning units.
The theory of heat transfer through fins of semi-infinite length or at symmetric boundary
conditions (equal temperatures of heaters or coolers at the ends, equal flow temperature,
washing the surface of the fins, and equal heat transfer coefficients) has been developed quite
fully. There are reliable design formulas for this case that allow carrying out design and
verification calculations of heat exchangers operating in the given conditions or close to them
[1-15].
In practice, these conditions are not always fulfilled, and sometimes they have a
pronounced asymmetric character. For example, with the collective laminose finning of the
air heater tubes, due to the uneven distribution of the heat carrier along them, or the series
connection of the tubes in the multi-row heat exchanger, the temperature of the fin is uneven.

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
E3S Web of Conferences 91, 02009 ( 2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf /20199102009
TPACEE-2018

Sometimes the surface of a flat fin is washed by heat carriers having different temperatures
at each side. Often the heat transfer coefficients between heat carriers and the surface of the
fins are unequal. For example, recently, in order to intensify heat exchange in the furnaces of
steam and hot water boilers of small and medium power, the so-called gilled finning of pipes
is widely used. The continuous gilled finned tubes are also used as partitions forming the
boiler flues. The flue gases surrounding these heat exchange surfaces at each side have
different temperatures and different heat transfer coefficients.
Thus, it becomes urgent to study heat transfer through finned heat exchange surfaces
under asymmetric boundary conditions. In this article, an attempt to give a theoretical
solution to this problem is made.

2 Methods
Let us consider the problem of transferring heat through a thin fin of a given constant section
f with length h located between two end heaters (a and b) or coolers with different
temperatures 𝑡𝑎 and 𝑡𝑏 (Figure 1).
The fin surface is washed by a gas stream with a constant temperature 𝑡𝑓 .
Let 𝑡𝑎 > 𝑡𝑏 , and 𝑡𝑓 < 𝑡𝑏 , or 𝑡𝑎 < 𝑡𝑏 , and 𝑡𝑓 > 𝑡𝑏 (Figure 2), i.e. the direction of the
heat flow from the fin surface to the medium or from the medium to the fin surface along the
entire fin length is unambiguous.
The heat transfer coefficient α will be assumed constant. The nature of temperature
variation along the length of the edge 𝑡 = φ(𝑥) for the cases indicated above is shown in
Figures 1, 2.

Fig. 1. The temperature distribution along the fin with the end heaters at 𝑡𝑎 > 𝑡𝑏 > 𝑡𝑓 .

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E3S Web of Conferences 91, 02009 ( 2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf /20199102009
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Fig. 2. The temperature distribution along the fin with the end heaters at 𝑡𝑎 < 𝑡𝑏 < 𝑡𝑓 .

It is required to establish the analytical law of temperature change 𝑡 = φ(𝑥) and obtain
the expression for the total amount of heat Q perceived (given off) by the edge per unit time,
i.e. the total heat flux under the conditions specified above.
At an arbitrary distance from the fin base between two cross sections of the fin, we select
an element with length dx.

3 Results
According to the Fourier law, the expression for the second amount of heat entering the
selected element through the left cross section by thermal conductivity, we will have the
following form:
∂𝑡
𝑄𝑥 = −λ𝑓 , (1)
∂𝑥

Where λ is a thermal conductivity of the fin material, W/(m∙K).

The amount of heat lost by an element through the right cross section, up to infinitely
smalls of a higher order
𝜕𝑄𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
𝑄𝑥+𝑑𝑥 = 𝑄𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 = − 𝜆𝑓 − 𝜆𝑓 𝑑𝑥. ((2)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2

According to the Newton-Richman law, heat transferred per unit time through the lateral
surface of this element as a result of convective heat transfer:
𝑑𝑄𝑢 = 𝛼(𝑡 − 𝑡𝑓 )𝑢 𝑑𝑥, (3)
where α is a heat-transfer coefficient, W/(m2∙K);
u is a perimeter of fin cross-section, m.
On the basis of the energy balance for the selected fin element under steady-state thermal
conditions, we can write the following equation
𝑄𝑥 − 𝑄𝑥+𝑑𝑥 − 𝑑𝑄𝑢 = 0,
(4)
or
∂2 𝑡
𝜆𝑓 𝑑𝑥 − 𝛼𝑢(𝑡 − 𝑡𝑓 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 0. (5)
𝜕𝑥 2

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E3S Web of Conferences 91, 02009 ( 2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf /20199102009
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Introduce the notation 𝛼𝑢⁄λ𝑓 = 𝑚2 , and rewrite equation (5) in the following form:

𝜕2𝑡
− 𝑚2 (𝑡 − 𝑡𝑓 ) = 0. (6)
𝜕𝑥 2
The general solution of this linear differential equation will be as follows:
𝑡 = 𝑐′𝑒 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐′′𝑒 −𝑚𝑥 + 𝑡𝑓 . (7)
Coefficients 𝑐′ and 𝑐′′ can be obtained from the boundary conditions.
Formulating the boundary conditions, we divide the fin into two parts: left with length h1
and right with length h2 (h1 + h2 =h). In section x=h1 (heat cross section (𝑡0 )), where the
𝜕𝑡
derivative changes its sign.
𝜕𝑥
Consequently, for the left-hand side of the fin we have the following boundary conditions:
At х=0 t=ta .
𝜕𝑡
At х=h1 = 0.
𝜕𝑥

According to the formula (7) we have (for the left side of the fin):
𝑡𝑎 = 𝑐1′ + 𝑐1′′ + 𝑡𝑓 . (8)
𝑑𝑡
| | = 𝑚𝑐1′ 𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 − 𝑚𝑐1′′ 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1 = 0. (9)
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=ℎ1

Solving jointly equations (6) and (9), we obtain:

(𝑡𝑎 − 𝑡𝑓 )𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1
с1′ = ; ((10)
𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1

(𝑡𝑎 − 𝑡𝑓 )𝑒 𝑚ℎ1
с1′′ = . (11)
𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1
Substituting the obtained values of the constants 𝑐′ and 𝑐′′ in (7), we obtain
𝑒 −𝑚(ℎ1−𝑥) 𝑒 𝑚(ℎ1−𝑥)
𝑡1 = (𝑡𝑎 − 𝑡𝑓 ) + (𝑡𝑎 − 𝑡𝑓 ) + 𝑡𝑓 , ((12)
𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1 𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1

or
ch[𝑚(ℎ1 −𝑥)]
𝑡1 = 𝑡𝑓 + (𝑡𝑎 − 𝑡𝑓 ) . ((13)
ch(𝑚ℎ1 )

x= h1
At
𝑡𝑎 −𝑡𝑓
𝑡ℎ1 = 𝑡𝑓 + . (14)
𝑐ℎ(𝑚ℎ1 )

Heat flow through the left base of the fin:

𝜕𝑡
𝑄1 = −𝜆𝑓 | | = −𝜆𝑓𝑚(𝑐1′ − 𝑐1′′ ). (15)
𝜕𝑥 х=0

Substituting the obtained values of the constants 𝑐′ and 𝑐′′ in (7), we obtain

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𝑄1 = −𝜆𝑓𝑚(𝑡𝑑 − 𝑡𝑓 )𝑡ℎ(𝑚ℎ1 ). (16)

Formulas analogous to expressions (13) and (16) can also be obtained for the right side
of the fin (ℎ2 )
ch[𝑚(ℎ2 −𝑥)]
𝑡2 = 𝑡𝑓 + (𝑡𝑏 − 𝑡𝑓 ) ; (17)
ch(𝑚ℎ2 )

𝑄2 = −𝜆𝑓𝑚(𝑡в − 𝑡𝑓 )𝑡ℎ(𝑚ℎ2 ), (18)

where 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ ℎ2 (base “b”-reading), i.e. the variable x in expression (17) varies from
x = 0 at the right base of the fin, where 𝑡2 = 𝑡𝑏 , to𝑥 = ℎ2 in heat section, where 𝑡2 = 𝑡ℎ2 .
According to (17)
𝑡в −𝑡𝑓
𝑡ℎ2 = 𝑡𝑓 + . (19)
ch(𝑚ℎ2 )

As temperatures 𝑡ℎ1 and𝑡ℎ2 belongs to one heat section, then according to (14) and (19)
𝑡𝑎 −𝑡𝑓 𝑡𝑏 −𝑡𝑓
= . (20)
ch(𝑚ℎ1 ) ch[𝑚(ℎ−ℎ1 )]

The obtained equation allows us to find the coordinate of the cross-section of the heat
section in the fin, and consequently, the calculated values of the fin lengths ℎ1 andℎ2 = ℎ −
ℎ1 .
In case of thermal symmetry, when 𝑡𝑎 = 𝑡𝑏 , we have ℎ1 = ℎ1 = ℎ⁄2 .
At𝑡𝑏 < 𝑡𝑎 and 𝑡𝑓 < 𝑡𝑏 , or

at 𝑡𝑏 > 𝑡𝑎 and 𝑡𝑓 > 𝑡𝑏

the heat section shifts to the base of the fin “b”.
The resultant amount of heat Q is determined by the sum:
𝑄 = 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 .
Let us consider the case when the temperature of the medium 𝑡𝑓 is less than the
temperature of one of the fin edges, for example, 𝑡𝑎 , but it is greater than the temperature of
the other base𝑡𝑏 :
𝑡𝑎 > 𝑡𝑓 > 𝑡𝑏 .
In this case, one part of the fin surface, where t >𝑡𝑓 , is heat-liberating, and the other, where
t<𝑡𝑓 , is heat-receiving.
As at х=0 t=𝑡𝑎 , and at x= h1 t=𝑡𝑓 , then according to (7):
𝑡𝑎 = 𝑐1′ + 𝑐1′′ + 𝑡𝑓 ; 𝑡𝑏 = 𝑐2′ + 𝑐2′′ + 𝑡𝑓 ;

𝑐1′ 𝑒 𝑚ℎ1 + 𝑐1′′ 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ1 = 0;

𝑐2′ 𝑒 𝑚ℎ2 + 𝑐2′′ 𝑒 −𝑚ℎ2 = 0.

We have the same equations for determining arbitrary constants 𝑐1′ ; 𝑐1′′ ; 𝑐2′ ; 𝑐2′′ , as in (8),
(9), therefore the same solutions of(13), (16), (17) and (18) for
𝑡1 (𝑥); 𝑡2 (𝑥);

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𝑄1 (ℎ1 ); 𝑄2 (ℎ2 ).
The resultant amount of heat in this case will be
𝑄 = 𝑄2 − 𝑄1 .
Heat sections determined as
𝑡𝑜 = 𝑡𝑓 ,
i.e. in the place where the direction of the heat flow in the convective heat exchange
between the medium and the surface changes its sign.
𝑡𝑎 −𝑡𝑓
=
𝑡𝑓 −𝑡𝑏
. (21)
ch(𝑚ℎ1 ) ch[𝑚(ℎ−ℎ1 )]

4 Conclusion
1. The obtained analytical solutions allow giving a quantitative estimate of the influence of
the boundary conditions asymmetry on the heat transfer through the finned heat exchange
surface.
2. The calculated formulas (20) and (21) can be used both in the design calculations of
various heat exchangers with finned heat exchange surfaces and in verification calculations,
for example, for analyzing the variation in finning efficiency when symmetry is violated in
the boundary conditions during the operation of heat exchangers.
3. The resulting calculation formulas can be very useful in choosing the optimal design
dimensions and the layout of heat exchangers with collective finned surfaces.

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