1.

A hot surface at 100°C is to be

cooled by attaching 3-cm-long,
0.25-cm-diameter aluminum pin
fins (k = 237 W/m · °C) to it,
with a center-to-center distance
of 0.6 cm. The temperature of
the surrounding medium is
30°C, and the heat transfer
coefficient on the surfaces is 35
W/m2 · °C. Determine the rate
of heat transfer from the surface
for a 1-m × 1-m section of the
plate. Also determine the overall effectiveness of the fins.

Solution
A hot plate is to be cooled by attaching aluminum pin fins on one side. The
rate of heat transfer from the 1 m by 1 m section of the plate and the
effectiveness of the fins are to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 The temperature along
the fins varies in one direction only (normal to the plate). 3 Heat transfer
from the fin tips is negligible. 4 The heat transfer coefficient is constant and
uniform over the entire fin surface. 5 The thermal properties of the fins are
constant. 6 The heat transfer coefficient accounts for the effect of radiation
from the fins.
Properties The thermal conductivity of the aluminum plate and fins is given
to be k = 237 W/m⋅°C.
Analysis Noting that the cross-sectional areas of the fins are constant, the
efficiency of the circular fins can be determined to be
hp hπD 4h 4(35 W / m 2 . ° C)
a= = = = = 15.37 m -1
kAc kπD 2 / 4 kD (237 W / m. ° C)(0.0025 m)
 tanh aL tanh(15.37 m -1 × 0.03 m)
η fin = = = 0.935
aL 15.37 m -1 × 0.03 m

(Can also be found from the chart)

The number of fins, finned and unfinned surface areas, and heat transfer rates
from those areas are
1 m2
n= = 27,777
(0.006 m)(0.006 m)

 πD 2   π (0.0025) 2 
Afin = 27777 πDL +  = 27777 π (0.0025)(0.03) +  = 6.68 m
2
3 cm
 4   4 
D=0.25 cm
 πD 2   2 0.6 cm
Aunfinned = 1 − 27777  = 1 − 27777  π (0.0025)  = 0.86 m 2
 4 
   4 
Q finned = η Q
fin = η hA (T − T )
fin, max fin fin b ∞

= 0.935(35 W/m .°C)(6.68 m )(100 − 30)°C

2 2

= 15,300 W
Q unfinned = hAunfinned (Tb − T∞ ) = (35 W/m 2 .°C)(0.86 m 2 )(100 − 30)°C
= 2107 W

Then the total heat transfer from the finned plate becomes
Q total,fin = Q finned + Q unfinned = 15,300 + 2107 = 1.74 × 10 4 W = 17.4 kW

The rate of heat transfer if there were no fin attached to the plate would be
Ano fin = (1 m)(1 m) = 1 m 2
Q no fin = hAno fin (Tb − T∞ ) = (35 W / m 2 . ° C)(1 m 2 )(100 − 30)° C = 2450 W

Then the fin effectiveness becomes

Q fin 17,400
ε fin = = = 7.10

Q no fin 2450
2. Steam in a heating system flows
through tubes whose outer diameter
is 5 cm and whose walls are
maintained at a temperature of
180°C. Circular aluminum alloy
2024-T6 fins (k = 186 W/m · °C) of
outer diameter 6 cm and constant
thickness 1 mm are attached to the
tube. The space between the fins is 3
mm, and thus there are 250 fins per
meter length of the tube. Heat is
transferred to the surrounding air at
T∞ = 25°C, with a heat transfer
coefficient of 40 W/m2 · °C. Determine the increase in heat transfer
from the tube per meter of its length as a result of adding fins.

Solution
Circular aluminum fins are to be attached to the tubes of a heating system.
The increase in heat transfer from the tubes per unit length as a result of
adding fins is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 Steady operating conditions exist. 2 The heat transfer
coefficient is constant and uniform over the entire fin surfaces. 3 Thermal
conductivity is constant. 4 Heat transfer by radiation is negligible.
Properties The thermal conductivity of the fins is given to be k = 186
W/m⋅°C.
Analysis In case of no fins, heat transfer from the tube per 180°C
meter of its length
is

Ano fin = πD1 L = π (0.05 m)(1 m) = 01571 . m2

Q no fin = hAno fin (Tb − T∞ ) = (40 W / m 2 . ° C)(01571
. m2 )(180 − 25)° C = 974 W

The efficiency of these circular fins is, from the efficiency curve,
 

L = ( D2 − D1 ) / 2 = (0.06 − 0.05) / 2 = 0.005 m 

r2 + (t / 2) 0.03 + (0.001 / 2) 
= = 1.22 η fin = 0.97
r1 0.025 

 t h  0.001  40 W/m 2 o C
L +  =  0.005 +  = 0.08
 2  kt  2  (186 W/m C)(0.001 m)
o 

Heat transfer from a single fin is
Afin = 2π ( r2 − r1 ) + 2πr2 t = 2π (0.03 2 − 0.025 2 ) + 2π (0.03)(0.001) = 0.001916 m 2
2 2

Q fin = η fin Q fin, max = η fin hAfin (Tb − T∞ )

= 0.97(40 W/m 2 .°C)(0.001916 m 2 )(180 − 25)°C
= 11.53 W
Heat transfer from a single unfinned portion of the tube is
Aunfin = πD1 s = π (0.05 m)(0.003 m) = 0.0004712 m 2
Q unfin = hAunfin (Tb − T∞ ) = (40 W/m 2 .°C)(0.0004712 m 2 )(180 − 25)°C = 2.92 W

There are 250 fins and thus 250 interfin spacings per meter length of the tube.
The total heat transfer from the finned tube is then determined from
Q total,fin = n(Q fin + Q unfin ) = 250(11.53 + 2.92) = 3613 W
Therefore the increase in heat transfer from the tube per meter of its length as
a result of the addition of the fins is
Q increase = Q total,fin − Q no fin = 3613 − 974 = 2639 W

Tutorials
Two 3-m-long and 0.4-cm-thick cast iron (k = 52
W/m · °C) steam pipes of outer diameter 10 cm
are connected to each other through two 1-cm-
thick flanges of outer diameter 20 cm. The steam
flows inside the pipe at an average temperature of
200°C with a heat transfer coefficient of 180
W/m2 · °C. The outer surface of the pipe is
exposed to an ambient at 12°C, with a heat
transfer coefficient of 25 W/m2 · °C. (a) Disregarding the flanges, determine
the average outer surface temperature of the pipe. (b) Using this temperature
for the base of the flange and treating the flanges as the fins, determine the
fin efficiency and the rate of heat transfer from the flanges. (c) What length
of pipe is the flange section equivalent to for heat transfer purposes?