Aproximate Analytic Analysis Of Annular Fins With

Uniform Thickness By Way Of The Mean Value

Theorem For Integration That Avoids Modified
Bessel Functions

Antonio AcostaIborra1, Antonio Campo2

Abstract - In the analysis of annular fins of uniform thickness, the main obstacle is without question, the
variable coefficient 1 r multiplying the first order derivative temperature dT dr in the governing quasi
one-dimensional heat conduction equation. A good-natured manipulation of the problematic variable
coefficient 1 r is the principal objective of the present paper on engineering education. Specifically, we
seek to apply the mean value theorem for integration to 1 r , viewed as an auxiliary function in the annular
fin domain extending from the inner radius r1 to the outer radius r2 . It is demonstrated in a convincing
manner that approximate analytic temperature profiles of good quality are easy to obtain without resorting
to the exact analytic temperature profile embodying four modified Bessel functions. Surely, instructors and
students in heat transfer courses will be the beneficiaries of this finding because of the easiness in
calculating the temperatures and heat transfer rates for realistic combinations of the two controlling
parameters: the normalized radii ratio and the thermo-geometric fin parameter.

Keywords - annular fin with uniform thickness; mean value theorem for integration; approximate
temperature distribution of simple exponential form.

Nomenclature
ht
Bi transversal Biot number,
k
r1
c normalized radii ratio,
r2

ht r r
2

EBi enlarged transversal Biot number, EBi = 2 1

k t
E relative error for the fin efficiency

1
Departamento de Ingenieria Termica y de Fluidos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. aacosta@ing.uc3m.es
2
Departament of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. USA. antonio.campo@utsa.edu

Note. The manuscript for this paper was submitted for review and possible publication on November 9th, 2012; accepted on February
25th, 2013. This paper is part of the Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2013. LACCEI,
ISSN 1935-0295.

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
1
Et relative error for the dimensionless tip temperature (1)

h mean convection coefficient W m-2 K-1

Iv modified Bessel function of first kind and order v

k thermal conductivity .. W m-1 K-1

Kv modified Bessel function of second kind and order v

L length, r2 r1 .. m

1
MR mean value of the auxiliary function f (R) = in [ c , 1]
R
Q actual heat transfer .. W
Qi ideal heat transfer . W

r radial coordinate ....... m

r1 inner radius ... m

r2 outer radius ... m

r
R normalized radial coordinate,
r2
S exposed surface... m2
t semithickness .. m
T temperature ... K
Tb base temperature ....... K
Tf fluid temperature ... K

Greek letters
2 h
thermogeometric parameter, ........ m-2
kt

dimensionless group,
1 c
Q
fin efficiency or dimensionless heat transfer,
Qi

T Tf
normalized dimensionless temperature,
Tb T f

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
2
1,2 roots of the auxiliary equation (13)

h
dimensionless thermo-geometric parameter, L
kt

Subscripts
b base
i ideal
f fluid
t tip

1. INTRODUCTION with a mathematical analysis of the straight fin

of uniform thickness that leads to exact
One traditional passive method for
expressions in terms of exponentials or
augmenting heat transfer between hot solid
equivalent hyperbolic functions for calculating
bodies and surrounding cold fluids increases the
a) the temperature profile, b) the heat transfer
surface area of the solid body in contact with the
rate and c) the fin efficiency. However, this is
fluid by attaching thin strips of material, called
not the case with the annular fin of uniform
extended surfaces or fins. The enlargement in
thickness where the cross-sectional area and the
surface area of the body may be morph in the
surface area are functions of the radial
form of spines, straight fins or annular fins with
coordinate. In view of the impending difficulty,
various cross-sections. Conceptually, the
most textbooks on heat transfer skip the
problem of determining the total heat flow in a
mathematical analysis and present only the fin
fin bundle attached to a solid body requires prior
efficiency diagram to facilitate the calculation of
knowledge of the temperature profile in a single
the heat transfer rate. However, there are
fin.
exceptions in the old textbooks by Boelter et al.
[1] and Jakob [2] and the new textbooks by
There are two fin shapes of paramount
Mills [3] and Incropera and DeWitt [4], who do
importance in engineering applications, one is
explain in-depth the mathematical analysis that
the straight fin of uniform thickness and the
eventually supplies exact analytic expressions
other is the annular fin of uniform thickness. In
for a) the temperature profile, b) the heat
the great majority of textbooks on heat transfer,
transfer rate and c) the fin efficiency. Moreover,
the section devoted to fin heat transfer begins

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
3
it is worth adding that the fin efficiency diagram replace the cumbersome variable coefficient 1 r
is included in [4], but not in [1-3]. From a by an approximate constant coefficient. Invoking
historical perspective, several exact solutions to the mean value theorem for integration, one
the heat conduction in an annular fin of constant viable avenue is to substitute 1 r , viewed as an
thickness have been developed by Harper and
auxiliary function in the proper fin domain
Brown [5], Murray [6], Carrier and Anderson
[ r1 , r2 ] by the mean value of the function. A
[7] and Gardner [8]. This collection of exact
beneficial consequence of this approach is that
solutions is based upon the standard
the transformed quasi one-dimensional fin
assumptions of quasi one-dimensional
equation now holds constant coefficients. Herein,
conduction in the radial direction of the annular
the two controlling parameters are the
fin.
normalized radii ratio and the thermo-geometric

Under the prevalent quasi one- parameter.

dimensional formulation, the temperature

descend along an annular fin with uniform It is envisioned that the analytic

cross-section is governed by a differential approximate procedure to be delineated in the

equation of second order with one variable
coefficient 1 r that multiplies the first order
temperature derivative dT dr .
homogeneous version of the
equation is named the modified Bessel equation
of zero order, wherein the variable coefficient
1 r is troublesome. A review of the heat
conduction literature reveals no previous efforts
aimed at solving this modified Bessel equation
by means of approximate analytic procedures.
The present study addresses
elementary analytic avenue for the treatment of
annular fins of uniform thickness in an
approximate manner. The central idea is to
paper on engineering education may facilitate the
quick determination of approximate analytic
temperature profiles and heat transfer rates for
The
annular fins of uniform thickness without the
differential
intervention of modified Bessel functions, such
as I v (*) and K v (*)
2. Modeling and Quantities of Engineering
Interest
An annular fin of uniform thickness
dissipating heat by convection from a round tube
an
or circular rod to a surrounding fluid is sketched
in Fig. 1. The three fin dimensions are: uniform
thickness 2t , inner radius r1 and outer radius r2 .

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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In the modeling, the classical Murray-Gardner
assumptions (Murray [6], Gardner [8]) are The proper boundary conditions implying
adopted: steadiness in heat flow; constant prescribed temperature at the fin base r1 and zero
thermal conductivity k ; uniform heat transfer heat loss at the fin tip r2 are

coefficient h ; unvarying fluid temperature Tf;

dT (r2 )
T (r1 ) = Tb and =0
prescribed fin base temperature Tb; dr
(3a, 3b)
preponderance of radial temperature gradients
over transversal temperature gradients; negligible
Fundamentally speaking, when a body
heat transfer at the outermost fin section (i.e.,
surface is extended by a protruding fin of any
adiabatic fin tip); and null heat sources or sinks.
Accordingly, the governing quasi one- shape, the external convective resistance Rc

dimensional fin equation framed in cylindrical decreases because the surface area is increased,

coordinates is but on the other hand the internal conductive

d dT h resistance Rk increases because heat is

r r (T Tf ) = 0 in r1 r r2
dr dr kt conducted through the fin, before being
(1) convected to the fluid.

or in an alternate expanded form Calculation of the heat transfer from an annular

fin of uniform thickness to a surrounding fluid
can be carried out directly in two ways:
(1) differentiating T(r) at the fin base r = r1:
2
d T + 1 dT 2 (T T ) = 0 in r1 r r2
f
dr2 r dr
dT (r1 ) dT (r1 )
(2) Q1 = kAb = 4 k t r1
dr dr
where 2 = h tk is called the thermo-geometric (4a)
parameter [1]. As far as the classification of Eq.
(2) is concerned, it is a non-homogeneous or (2) integrating T(r) over the fin surface S:
differential equation of second order with
r2
variable coefficients, wherein the variable Q2 = h (T T f ) dS = 4 h (T T f ) r dr
S r1
coefficient 1 r is of intricate form.
(4b)

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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 for the annular fin of uniform thickness under
Clearly, Eq. (4a) is easier to implement. study. Herein, the fin slenderness ratio is defined
as the length L = r2 r1 divided by the semi-
Upon introducing the normalized thickness t.
dimensionless temperature (T T f ) (Tb T f ) and

the normalized dimensionless radial Conversely, the heat transfer Q from any
coordinate R = r r2 , the parameter c = r1 r2 fin can be estimated indirectly using the concept
emerges as the normalized radii ratio. Thereby, of dimensionless heat transfer or fin efficiency
Eq. (2) is transformed to = Q Qi as proposed by Gardner [8]. In here,
Qi is an ideal heat transfer from an identical
d + 1 d
2 2
=0 in c R 1 reference fin maintained at the base temperature
d R 2 R dR (1 c)2
Tb (equivalent to an ideal material with infinite
(5)
thermal conductivity k ). For the specific
case of annular fins of uniform thickness, the
along with the boundary conditions
ideal heat transfer is given by

d (1)
(c ) = 1 and =0
Qi = 2 ( r2 r1 ) h (Tb T f )
2 2
dR

(6a,6b) As noted before the computation of may be

carried out in two different ways:
Eq. (5) is named the modified Bessel equation of (1) by differentiation of ( R ) at the fin
zero order (Polyanin and Zaitsev [9]).
base leading to

Despite that the transversal Biot number Bi = ht k is the natural reference parameter in fin heat transfer analys
1 2c (1 c ) d (c)
1 = 2
1 + c dR
ht r r
2

EBi = 2 1
k t or (2) by integration of ( R ) over the fin
surface, resulting in
(or for short) seems to be a better parameter
2

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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 2 1 In this regard, the fin tips of annular fins of
2 = 2 c
( R) R dR (7b)
1 c uniform thickness are prone to be touched
accidentally. Because of this, the fin tip
At the end, the magnitude of heat transfer Q is temperature T(r2 ) is considered by design
obtainable with the expression engineers as a parameter of relevance.
Therefore, the exact dimensionless tip
[
Q = Qi = 2 ( r2 r1 ) h (Tb T f )
2 2
] temperature (1) follows from Eq. (8),

(7c) I1 ( ) K 0 ( ) + I 0 ( ) K1 ( )
(1) =
I1 ( ) K 0 ( c) + I 0 ( c) K1 ( )

where comes from either Eq. (7a) or (7b). (9)

3. Exact Calculation Procedure Further, the two avenues in Eqs. (7a)

The exact analytic solution of Eqs. (5)
and (6) gives way to the exact dimensionless
temperature profile ( R ) as found in [3]:
I1( )K 0 ( R ) + I 0 ( R)K1 ( )
(R) =
I1( )K 0 ( c) + I 0 ( c)K1( ) Numerical evaluations of the sequence of Eqs.
where I v (*) and K v (*) are the modified Bessel
functions of first and second kind, both of order
v and stands for the dimensionless group
/(1 c) (see Nomenclature).
and (7b) coalesce into the exact fin efficiency
1 2c I1( )K1( c) I1( c) K1( )
=
1 + c I1( )K 0 ( c) + I 0 ( c) K1( )
(10)
(8)
(8)(10) are elaborate and time-consuming, even
with contemporary symbolic algebra codes, like
Mathematica, Maple and Matlab.
4. Approximate Calculation Procedure

The idea behind the mean value theorem

On the other hand, the safe-touch
for integration boils down to replacing an
temperature of hot bodies is an important issue
auxiliary function in a certain closed interval by
for the safety of technical personnel working in
an equivalent representative number. From
plant environments (Arthur and Anderson [10]).
Differential Calculus (Stewart [11]), the mean

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
7
value theorem for integration can be stated as
follows Let f(x) be a continuous function on d + M d
2 2
=0 in c R 1
dR (1 c) 2
R
[a, b] and the mean (or average) value of f (x) d R2
(12)
is:

That is a differential equation of second order

1 b
b a a
f = f ( x) dx with constant coefficients and homogeneous.
Hence, the general solution of Eq. (Error!
Reference source not found.) is (Boyce and
Why not trying to extend this idea to
DiPrima [12])
replace a variable coefficient appearing in a
differential equation by an equivalent number so
that the variable coefficient is channeled ( R) = C1 e R + C2 e R
1 2

through a number i.e., a constant coefficient? (7)

The derived benefit is self-evident, because
ordinary differential equations with constant The two distinct roots of the auxiliary equation
coefficients are easier to solve than those with are
variable coefficients.
4 2
The disturbing variable coefficient 1 R in M R M R2 +
(1 c) 2
1 , 2 =
Eq. (5) may be viewed as a continuous function 2
f ( R) = 1 R outlining a hyperbola segment on (8)

the closed Rinterval [c, 1]. Upon applying the

The combination of Eqs. (12)(14) culminates in
mean value theorem for integration to f ( R ) , the
the particular solution
end result is
1 11 ln c
MR =
1 c R
c
dR =
1 c 2 e ( R 1) 1e ( R 1)
1 2

( R) =
(11) 2 e ( c 1) 1e ( c 1)
1 2

(9)
Next, replacing the variable coefficient 1 R with
the constant coefficient MR in Eq. (5), this In other words, the approximate dimensionless
equation is converted to temperature profile.

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
8
 practical c values are listed in Table 1.
It is reasonable to pause for a moment at
this juncture to contrast the complex structure of Returning to Eq. (15) momentarily, the
the exact temperature profile in Eq. (8) involving two approximate fin efficiencies can be
four modified Bessel functions I0 (*), I1 (*), K0 (*) generated through the tandem of Eqs. (7a) and
and K1 (*), against the simple structure of the (7b), i.e.,
approximate temperature profile in Eq. (9) with
four exponential functions. Consequently, Eq. (1) by differentiation of ( R ) at the fin
(15) being of ultra compact form, constitutes the base:
centerpiece of the present work.
Moreover, by virtue of Eq. (9), the e1 ( c 1) e2 ( c 1)
2c
1 = 1 ( c 1) c 1
approximate dimensionless tip temperature (1) 1 c2 2 e 1e 2 ( )
is
computed from
or (2) by integration of ( R ) over the fin
surface:
2 1
(1) = (16)
2 e ( c 1)
1
1e ( c 1)
2

Turning our attention to the fin efficiency

diagram for annular fins of uniform cross-section
in [4], the family of -curves is parameterized
r2
by the radii ratio varying from 1 (straight fin
r1
of uniform thickness) up to a maximum of 5. It
should be mentioned that this is the format used
for the fin efficiency diagram in the textbook by
Chapman [13]. In terms of the normalized radii
r2
ratio c, the large span 1 5 is analogous to
r1
the reduced c-interval 0.2 c 1. In this sense,
realistic numbers for the emerging MR in terms of

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
9
 23 1 1 + (1 c1 ) e 1 ( c 1) 13 2 1 + (1 c2 ) e 2 ( c 1)
2
2 = 1 ( c 1) 2 ( c 1)
1 c2 1 2 2 e
2 2
1e

(17b)
The exact dimensionless temperature
Incidentally, it should be expected that the profiles calculated with Eq. (8) are compared
differentiation approach in the short Eq. (17a) against the approximate dimensionless
could produce numbers that are slightly different temperature profiles in Eq. (9) deduced in this
than those related to the integral approach in the work in Fig. 2. Combined with c = 0.2 , three
large Eq. (17b). The explanation for this disparity dimensionless temperature curves for a small
is that the approximate temperature profile in Eq. = 0.5, an intermediate = 2 and a large = 10
(9) does not satisfy the governing fin equation are plotted in the figure. The comparison for the
(12) exactly. From physical grounds, the heat by three values reveals satisfactory quality
conduction entering the fin at the base and the
between the approximate and exact
heat by convection dissipated along the surface
dimensionless temperature profiles. Interestingly,
of the fin could be unequal. This is the reason
the approximate dimensionless temperature
why Arpaci [14] recommended that whenever
profiles do not degenerate for the large = 10
( R ) is approximate, the integration approach 2
because Eq. (9) is physically consistent. In other
in Eq. (17b) must be preferred over the words, the approximate dimensionless
differentiation approach 1 in Eq. (17a). temperature profile tends rapidly to zero,
whenever

5. Presentation of Results
Using the approximate dimensionless
Inspection of the fin efficiency diagram
analytic temperature of Eq. (15) for the tandem
in [4] reveals that the smallest radii ratio is
of the smallest c = 0.2 and the largest 0.8, the fin
c = 0.2 (corresponding to r2 = 5r1 ). This
efficiencies estimated via the differential
particular radii ratio 0.2 was deliberately selected
approach 1 in Eq. (16.a) and the integral
here as a critical test case in order to analyze the
totality of the numerical results. approach 2 in Eq. (11.b) are listed in Table 2 for

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
10
the trio of = 0.5, 1.5 and 3. The exact fin
efficiencies computed from Eq. (10) range
from 0.1720 for the pair c = 0.2 and = 3 to
0.916 for the pair c = 0.8 and = 0.5. In Table 2,
the relative error in the efficiency E is defined
as:
approx. exact
E =
exact
(18)
First, for the smallest c = 0.2, the relative errors
E for the differential-based 1 vary from -1.62e-
1 when = 3 to -1.77e-1 when = 0.5. Second,
for the largest c = 0.8, the relative errors E for
the differential-based 1 vary from -2.88e-3
when = 3 to -4.08e-1 when = 0.5. Third, for
the smallest c = 0.2, the relative errors E for the
integral-based 2 vary from 3.5e-2 when = 3
to -4.37e-3 when = 0.5. Fourth, for the largest
c = 0.8, the relative errors E for the integral-
based 2 vary from -8.43e-4 when = 3 to
4.08e-5 when = 0.5. As may be seen, all
relative errors E are insignificant. Moreover, the
fin efficiency conveyed through the integral-
based 2 furnishes more accurate results than the
alternate derivative-based 1. Again, this
Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
statement is in harmony with the
recommendations made in [Error! Reference
source not found.].
As the numbers listed in Table 2
demonstrate, the differences between the fin
efficiency results based on the integral approach
and the derivative approach diminish for large
values of c . In fact, in the limiting case
corresponding to c = 1 , the approximate and the
exact predictions coincide, both magnitudes
collapsing into:
tanh( )
c =1 =
This expression can be easily deduced from the
approximate Eqs. (11) taking into account that
the roots confirm that 1,2 (1 c) whenever
c 1 . It should also be noted that Eq. (13)
stands for the fin efficiency for a longitudinal fin
of uniform thickness [3,4] and same , which is
a logical similitude owing to the null curvature in
the annular fin when c tends to unity and L is
maintained constant.
Figure 3 reveals a perfect matching
between the exact fin efficiencies varying with
the dimensionless fin parameter utilizing Eq.
(10) and the two approximate fin efficiencies 1
11
and 2 for c = 0.4 and 0.8 employing Eqs. (17a)
and (17b). However, for the smallest c = 0.2, 1
deteriorates, whereas 2 being more robust
provides good results.
Fig. 4 depicts the dimensionless tip
temperature as a function of the dimensionless
thermo-geometric parameter and the radii ratio
c. For the smallest c = 0.2 and the largest c = 0.8,
and the trio = 0.5, 1.5 and 3, the exact
dimensionless tip temperatures range from (1)
range from 0.879 for the combination c = 0.8 and
= 0.5 to 0.0559 for the combination of c = 0.2
and = 3. The latter having a nearly zero value is
representative of an infinite annular fin.
Also, the relative errors Et for the
dimensionless tip fin temperature calculated with
(1)approx. (1)exact
Et =
(1)exact
(19)
are listed in Table 3. First, for the smallest c =
0.2, the relative errors Et vary from -8.35e-3
when = 0.5 to -3.65e-1 when = 3. Second,
for the largest c = 0.8, the relative errors Et vary
from -1.50e-5 when = 0.5 to -1.02e-1 when
= 0.5. It is noticeable that all Et are very small.
Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
If c tends to unity while maintaining L
constant, the approximate equation (10) for the
estimation of the dimensionless tip temperature
simplifies to
1
c =1 (1) =
cosh( )
In general, the approximate results for both
(1) and deteriorate when the radii ratio c
decreases because the differences between the
constant mean values MR and the dimensionless
variable coefficient 1/R of the descriptive fin
equation are higher.
Finally, in the event that the instructor
decides to maximize the heat transfer from a
single annular fin of uniform thickness, the
required information about the three optimal fin
dimensions r1, r2 and t was made available in
the textbook by Jakob [2] by means of a simple
nomogram and many ears later in a sequence of
articles by Brown [15], Ullmann and Kalman
[16] and Arslanturk [17], all using combination
of figures.
6. Conclusions
In this study on engineering education,
various concepts from courses on calculus,
12
ordinary differential equations and heat transfer
have been blended in a unique way. In analyzing
annular fins of uniform thickness, the mean value
theorem for integration is used for simplifying
the descriptive quasi one-dimensional fin
equation, namely the modified Bessel differential
equation. This gives way to the approximate
temperature solutions endowed with an
unsurpassed combination of accuracy and
easiness. Differences between the analytic
temperature approximations developed in the
present work and the classical exact analytic
temperature profiles relying on four modified
Bessel functions are probably below the level of
inaccuracy introduced by the Murray-Gardner
assumptions.
References
1. Boelter, L. M. K., Cherry, V. H., Johnson, H.
A. and Martinelli, R. C., Heat Transfer Notes,
pp. IIB18-IIB19, University of California Press,
Berkeley, CA and Los Angeles, CA, 1946.
2. Jakob, M., Heat Transfer, Vol. 1, pp. 232-234,
John Wiley, New York, NY, 1949.
3. Mills, A. F., Heat and Mass Transfer, 2nd
edition, pp. 90-93, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle
River, NJ, 1999.
Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
4. Incropera, F.P. and DeWitt, D.P.,
Introduction to Heat Transfer, 4th edition, pp.
139-140, John Wiley, New York, NY, 2002.
5. Harper, D. R. and Brown, W. B.,
Mathematical Equations for Heat Conduction in
the Fins of Air-Cooled Engines, NACA Report
No. 158, 1922.
6. Murray, W. M., Heat dissipation through an
annular disk or fin of uniform thickness, Journal
of Applied Mechanics, Transactions of ASME,
Vol. 60, p. A-78, 1938.
7. Carrier, W. H. and Anderson, S. W., The
resistance to heat flow through finned tubing,
Heating, Piping, and Air Conditioning, Vol. 10,
pp. 304-320, 1944.
8. Gardner, K. A., Efficiency of extended
surfaces, Transactions of ASME, Vol. 67, pp.
621-631, 1945.
9. Polyanin, A. D. and Zaitsev, V. F., Handbook
of Exact Solutions for Differential Equations,
CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1995.
10. Arthur, K. and Anderson, A., Too hot to
handle?: An investigation into safe touch
temperatures. In Proceedings of the ASME
International Mechanical Engineering Congress
and Exposition (IMECE), pp. 11-17, Anaheim,
13
CA, 2004.
11. Stewart, J., Single Variable Calculus, 3th
edition, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Groove, CA, 2002.
12. Boyce, W. E. and DiPrima R. C., Elementary
Differential Equations and Boundary Value
Problems, 7th edition, John Wiley, New York,
NY, 2001.
13. Chapman, A. J., Fundamentals of Heat
Transfer, 5th edition, MacMillan, New York, NY,
1987.
14. Arpaci, V., Conduction Heat Transfer,
Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1966.
Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
15. Brown, A., Optimum dimensions of uniform
annular fins, International Journal of Heat and
Mass Transfer, Vol. 8, pp. 655-662, 1965.
16. Ullmann, A. and Kalman, H., Efficiency and
optimized dimensions of annular fins of
different cross-section shapes, International
Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 32, pp.
1105-1110, 1989.
17. Arslanturk, C., Simple correlation equations
for optimum design of annular fins with uniform
thickness, Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol.
25, pp. 2463-2468, 2005.
14
List of Figures:

Fig. 1. Sketch of an annular fin of uniform thickness

Fig. 2. Comparison between the approximate and exact dimensionless temperature profiles for a fixed
normalized radii ratio c = 0.2 when combined with three different fin parameters .

Fig. 3. Comparison between the approximate and exact fin efficiencies as a function of the dimensionless
fin parameter for different normalized radii ratios c .

Fig. 4. Comparison between the approximate and exact tip temperatures as a function of the dimensionless
fin parameter for different normalized radii ratios c .

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
15
List of Tables:

Table 1. Functional mean MR in terms of the normalized radii ratio c

Table 2. Comparison of the fin efficiencies

Table 3. Comparison of the dimensionless fin tip temperatures (1)

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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FIGURE-1

r 2t

r1 L

r2

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
17
FIGURE-2

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
18
FIGURE-3

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
19
FIGURE-4

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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 Table 1
Functional mean MR for
typical radii ratios c

c MR

0.2 2.012
0.4 1.527
0.6 1.277
0.8 1.116
1.0 1.000

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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 Table 2
Comparison of the fin efficiencies

Relative
Procedure c error Exact
E (%)
derivative 0.2 3 -1.62e-1 0.1720
integral 0.2 3 3.50e-2 0.1720
derivative 0.2 1.5 -1.83e-1 0.4020
integral 0.2 1.5 -1.25e-3 0.4020
derivative 0.2 0.5 -1.77e-1 0.8470
integral 0.2 0.5 -4.37e-3 0.8470

derivative 0.8 3 -2.88e-3 0.3068

integral 0.8 3 8.43e-4 0.3068
derivative 0.8 1.5 -3.69e-3 0.5760
integral 0.8 1.5 3.34e-4 0.5760
derivative 0.8 0.5 -4.08e-3 0.9160
integral 0.8 0.5 4.08e-5 0.9160

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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 Table 3
Comparison of the dimensionless tip temperatures (1)

Relative
c Exact
error Et
(%)

0.2 3 -3.65e-2 0.0559

0.2 1.5 -3.04e-2 0.2918
0.2 0.5 -8.35e-3 0.8159
0.8 3 -1.02e-4 0.0921
0.8 1.5 -7.18e-5 0.4061
0.8 0.5 -1.50e-5 0.8790

Latin American and Caribbean Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 7(1), 2013
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