Analysis of heat flux in circular fins

according to changing characteristic length

Chinmay P Patil
Mechanical Engineering, B.E
Mumbai University
Mumbai
chimpx0@gmail.com
AbstractThis document entails the effect on heat flux in
circular fins with changing length. The same have been tested
using Ansys 16.0. Also the aim of this document is to establish the
corollary that heat flux decreases with increasing length
KeywordsStructural Steel; ANSYS 16.0; CAD; Heat Flux;
Fins

I.

INTRODUCTION

Heat flux is defined as the amount of heat transferred per

unit area per unit time from or to a surface. In a basic sense it is
a derived quantity since it involves, in principle, two quantities
viz. the amount of heat transfer per unit time and the area
from/to which this heat transfer takes place. In practice, the
heat flux is measured by the change in temperature brought
about by its effect on a sensor of known area. However use of
modern computation allows us to estimate the results without
testing it out practically. In this study use of software ANSYS
16 is done to test the same. Also the fact that heat flux changes
with length of fins unto some specific length and decreases is
established in the study.
II. CAD MODEL
The Cad model is constructed in Ansys itself using its
design modeler feature. Thus need for external cad software is
eliminated.
The dimensions of cad model remains the same except fot
the length of fins which keep changing. Thus base plate have
no change in its dimensions and remains same throughout.
The dimensions are
Length of Base plate 100mm
Breath of Base plate 50mm
Height of base plate 10mm
Diameter of circular fins 10mm
Lengths of fins 25mm,50mm,100mm,150mm.

III. MATERIAL AND SURROUNDINGS PROPERTIES

Material -Structural Steel.
Thermal Conductivity[k]- 20 to 45 W/mK
Convective heat transfer coefficient 55W/m2 o C
Temperature of Base Plate 195 OC

IV. ANALYSIS
Analysis has been done using Steady state thermal
analysis option Ansys workbench 16.0 feature.
Also following assumptions were taken into account
while doing the analysis1. Steady state heat conduction.
2. No heat generation within the fin.
3. Uniform heat transfer coefficient over entire surface
of fin
4. Homogeneous and isotropic fin material
5. Heat conduction one-dimensional.
6. Negligible radiation.
A . Analysis On fin of length 10mm.
A: model1
Temperature
Type: Temperature
Unit: "C
Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:37 PM
195 Max
194.07
193.13
192.2
191.26
190.33
189.4

188.46
187.53
186.59 Min

1
i
1

ANSYS

16.0

<

<
i;<>

1
1
1

'<<<

x
Y

0.000

0.040 (m)

0.020

A: model1
Total Heat Flux
Type: Total Heat Flu:

ANSYS

16.0

Unit: W/mz

Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:38 PM

A: modeM
Total Heat Flux
Type: Total Heat Flux
Unit: W/mz
Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:45 PM

2.7618e5 Max
2.4563e5
2.1 507e5

88695 Max
78924
69154
59384
49614

ANSYS

16.0

J
1.5396e5

S'

1.8452e5

1.2341e5 X*
92857
62303
31750
V
1195.9 Mifl

39844
30074
20304
10534
763.91 Min

y.-

A
S
*,

0.000

0.040 (m)

0.000

0.040 (m)

0.020

0.020

Heat Flux
Heat Flux
Results-

ResultsParameter

Min

Max

Parameter

Min

Max

Temperature

186.59

195

Temperature

102.74

195

Heat Flux

763.91

88695

Heat Flux

1195.9

2.76E+005

C. Analysis On fin of length 100mm

B. Analysis On fin of length 50mm

A: model1
A: modeM

ANSYS

Temperature
Type: Temperature
Unit: "C
Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:43 PM

16.0

ANSYS

Temperature
Type: Temperature
Unit: "C
Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:48 PM

16.0

195 Max
178.24
161.48
144.72
127.96
111.2
94.445

195 Max
184.75
174.5
164.25
154
143.75
133.5

77.686

123.24

60.927

112.99

44.168 Min

V'-

102.74 Mil

S'

Y
Y

0.040 (m)

0.000
0.020

Temperature

o.ooo

0.070 (m)
0.035

Temperature

A: modeM
Total Heat Flux
Type: Total Heat Flux

ANSYS

16.0

Unit: W/mz

Time: 1
19-12-2015 09:48 PM

64322

ANSYS

16.0

Unit: W/mz

Time: 1
19-12-2015 10:00 PM

2.8721e5 Max
2.5537e5
2.2353e5
1.9169e5
1.5985e5
1 2 8e 5
96163

A: modeM
Total Heat Flux
Type: Total Heat Flux

2.7009e5 Max
2.4015e5
2.1021 e5
1.8027e5
1.5033e5
1.2039e5
90449

.
J
%

60509

32482

30570

'V'

640.64 Min

J
2

629.96 Min W

r.

0.000

0.070 (m)

Heat Flux
ResultsParameter

Min

Max

Temperature

44.17

195

Heat Flux

640.64

2.87E+005

D. Analysis On fin of length 125mm

Min

Max

Temperature

33.33

195

Heat Flux

629.96

2.70E+005

E. Analysis On fin of length 150mm

A: modeM

A: modeM

ANSYS

Temperature
Type: Temperature
Unit: "C
Time: 1
19-12-2015 10:00 PM

16.0

195 Max
177.64
159.07
141.11
123.15

>*x

Z*
0.035

Heat Flux
ResultsParameter

0.070 (m)

0.000

>*x

Z*
0.035

y
y

102.1

87.223

83.521

69.26

16.0

195 Max
176.42
157.84
139.26
120.68

105.19

51.297

ANSYS

Temperature
Type: Temperature
Unit: "C
Time: 1
19-12-2015 10:21 PM

64.941

46.361
27.781 Min

33.334 Min

0.070 (m)

0.000

z*
0.035

Temperature

0.080 (m)

0.000

z*
0.040

Temperature

A: modeM
Total Heat Flux
Type: Total Heat Flux

ANSYS

16.0

Unit: W/mz

Time: 1
19-12-2015 10:22 PM
2.6354e5 Max
2.343e5
2.0505e5

1.758e5
1.4655e5
1.1731 e5
88057
58809
29562
313.76 Min

s'

&

S
Z

V. Conclusions
The changes in heat flux with Against length has been
summarized in following table

0.000

0.080 (m)

Z*
0.040

>*x

Max heat Flux

10

0.89

50

2.70E+005

100

2.80E+005

125

2.70E+005

150

2.60E+005

Thus we conclude

Heat flux
ResultsParameter

Length

1.
Min

Max

Temperature

27.81

195

Heat flux

313.76

2.64E+005

2.
3.
4.
5.

When length of fins is 10mm we see the maximum

heat flux occur from the fin but also from the corners
of base plate. Thus use of fins having length 10 for
give o[ate is not beneficial as it doesn't serves the
purpose of heat dissipation.
In second and third analysis heat flux raise to 2.76e5
and 2.8e5 respectively.
This is the highest rate of heat flux obtained in the
study
On further increase of length of fins the heat flux
decreases and at 150mm ultimately becomes less than
heat flux at 50 mm.
This prove that heat flux or rate of heat transfer from
use of fins is only beneficial upto some specific
length called as critical length above which
increasing length of fins is neither beneficial nor
required as it may increase weight and cost.
REFERENCES

[1]

Er. R.K Rajput, Heat and Mass Transfer S. Chand publishing. pp14,205,203-263.