Transport Phenomena-I

Laboratory Experiment #2:

Extended Surface Heat Transfer

By Azamat Amzebek

Team Members:

Azamat Amzebek

Akzhol Ishanov

Number of pages: 10

Date: 1.03.17
Theoretical Background
The rate of heat transferring from a surface to surrounding is described by
Newtons law of cooling as:
Qc =h A s (T sT a) (1)
where h is the convection heat transfer coefficient and As is surface

area. By design specifications, temperature of surface Ts and ambient

temperature Ta can be fixed. In this situation, there are two ways of

increasing the rate of heat transfer: increasing heat transfer coefficient or
to increase surface area. First method involves using additional equipment
as fan or pump, which is not adequate in all engineering situations.
Alternative way is increasing area by attaching to the surface extended
surfaces called fins.
This experimental work analyses the heat distribution across the fin at
different input powers and gives cumulative representation of
temperature variation along the rod. In ideal fin with zero thermal
resistance, or with infinite thermal conductivity, the temperature along
the rod remains constant. But in actual fin temperature drops due to
combined effect of convection and radiation. In order to obtain this
temperature distribution eight thermocouples are placed across the fin at
specified distances.
The data from thermocouples are collected using HT15 software, where
one can control amount of power applied and monitor the temperature
variation. Different input voltages have been chosen to have good
estimation of experimental results: 9V, 12V, 14V, 16V. After voltage source
is activated, temperature along the fin starts to rise. After stabilization of
system, all temperature readings are recorded using software.
The laboratory work consists of three parts. Taken data of eight
temperatures along the rod and ambient temperature have been used for
all three sections. Part A examines the temperature profile staring from
the base till the tip of the fin. Part B studies heat transfer from the fin due
to convection and radiation. Part C uses the convection heat transfer
coefficient in order to calculate the conductivity of the fin material.
Part A
Differential heat transfer in fins is given by equation:

d2T hp d2 2
2
= ( T T ) =0 2
m =0 (1)
dx k Ac dx
where h heat transfer coefficient due to convection and radiation, p is
perimeter of rod, k is thermal conductivity of fin material and Ac is cross
sectional area, also:
 hp
m 2= (2)
k Ac
By neglecting surface area and assuming the adiabatic process for the fin
tip, equation (1) can be reduced to following:

T x T 9 cosh ( m(Lx))
= (3)
T 1T 9 cosh ( mL)

where x is the position of thermocouple, m, Tx is temperature at x, C

, and L is the length of the fin. T1 and T9 are base and ambient
temperatures respectively. All taken data from thermocouples at different
voltages are tabulated in Table 1.

Table 1. Experimental temperatures and calculated values of m

m9 m12 m14 m16

Distance , T ex for 9 V , T ex for 12V , T ex for 14 V , T ex for 16 V ,
Tx , , , ,
m C 1 C 1 C 1 C 1
m m m m
T
0.00 49.94 65.75 77.83 90.79
1
T 6.3 6.7 6.9 7.1
0.05 43.41 54.55 62.99 71.79
2 3 7 6 6
T 6.5 6.9 7.1 7.3
0.10 38.41 46.27 52.15 57.99
3 4 4 3 4
T 6.6 7.0 7.2 7.5
0.15 34.94 40.49 44.52 48.35
4 1 4 7 0
T 6.5 6.9 7.2 7.4
0.20 32.80 36.92 39.87 42.57
5 1 7 1 4
T 6.7 7.1 7.3 7.5
0.25 30.94 34.19 36.53 38.45
6 3 2 1 4
T 6.6 7.0 7.2 7.5
0.30 30.30 32.96 34.97 36.40
7 2 8 7 3
T 6.6 7.1 7.3 7.5
0.35 29.94 32.44 34.29 35.62
8 7 3 2 7
T
25.2 25.90 26.4 26.6
9
mavg 6.5 7.0 7.2 7.4
7 0 1 4
Substituting the relevant value of temperature at x into equation (3)
values of m can be calculated. The equation involving hyperbolic function
has been solved using WolframAlpha software. Calculated values of m for
each reading are shown in Table 1. Overall m value for the fin is the mean
of all readings:
 8

mn
mavg= 0 (4)
8
Average value for m is also shown in Table 1.
Using uniform value for m of the fin material, theoretical temperatures can
be calculated using equation (3). As an example T2 of 9V:
cosh ( m ( Lx ) ) cosh ( 6.57 ( 0.30 ) )
T th , x =T 9+ ( T 1 T 9 ) =25.2+ ( 49.9425.2 ) =43.17 C
cosh ( mL ) cosh ( 6.57 ( 0.35 ) )

All values of temperatures for each position and different input voltages
are calculated in ta same way and finalized in Table 2.
Table 2. Theoretical values for Temperature
T th for 9V , T th for 12 V , T th for 14 V , T th for 16 V ,
Tx
C C C C
T1 49.94 65.75 77.83 90.79
T2 43.17 54.19 62.51 71.11
T3 38.37 46.12 51.93 57.67
T4 34.99 40.57 44.70 48.58
T5 32.69 36.83 39.87 42.56
T6 31.20 34.46 36.82 38.78
T7 30.37 33.14 35.13 36.70
T8 30.10 32.71 34.60 36.04
In Figure 1 experimental and calculated values of temperature are plotted
against position of the thermocouples. Taken data and theoretical values
of temperature are very similar and cause overlapping. From 3D plot it can
be observed that two values have only slight difference. With increasing
distance from the source of heat, temperature keeps falling. Also the
temperature gradient is much higher near the base and flattens close to
fin tip. This behaviour can be observed for all four different power input.
Figure 1. Experimental and Theoretical Temperature against Positions of
Thermocouples.
 Temperature vs Distance, 9V Temperature vs Distance, 12V
49.9
50 49.9 65.8
65 65.8
45 43.2
43.4 55 54.654.2
40 38.4
38.4 45 46.1
46.3
35 35.0
34.9 40.6
Temperature, Tx, (C) 30 32.7
32.831.2 Temperature, Tx, (C) 35 40.536.8
30.930.4
30.1 36.934.5
33.1
32.7
30.3
29.9 34.2
33.0
25 25 32.4

Distance, x,m Distance, x, m

Temperature vs Distance, 14V Temperature vs Distance, 16V

80 77.8
77.8 90.8
90 90.8
70
62.5
60 63.0 70 71.1
71.8
50 51.9
52.1 57.7
44.7 58.0
Temperature, Tx, (C) 40 44.539.9 Temperature, Tx, (C) 50 48.6
48.342.6
39.936.8
35.1 42.638.8
36.7
30 36.5
35.034.6 30 38.4
36.436.0
34.3 35.6

Distance, x, m Distance, x, m

Temperature distribution for all readings is plotted in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Temperature against Positions of thermocouples for each
measurement.
 Temperature vs Distance
100

90

80

70 9V
12V
Temperature, Tx, (C) 60
14V
50 16V

40

30

20
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35

Distance, x, m

It can be seen, that increasing the heater power causes high temperature
at the base, which gradually falls with increasing distance. But the same
behaviour of temperature profile is observed for each case.
Part B
The heat supplied to the fin dissipated from rod due to combined effect
convection and radiation. To calculate the rate of heat transferred
Newtons law of cooling, or equation (1), should be used:
Qc =H c A s (T s , avgT a) (1)
where surface area can be calculated as:
A s =DL (5)
where L is length of the rod, 0.35m, and D is diameter, 0.01m.
Temperature of the surface varies along the rod, so T s has been taken
as the average of all thermocouple readings. For 9V:
8

Tx
T s ,avg = x=1 +273.15=309.48 K
8

Heat transfer coefficient of radiation can be found using following

expression:
 4 4
(T T a )
H rm=F s , avg (6)
(T s ,avg T a )

where is Stefan-Boltzmann constant, =

9
56.7 10 W m K
2 4
;
is emissivity of surface, 0.95; F is view factor, (1). As an example for 9V:

( ( 309.48 K )4 ( 298.35 K ) 4 )
H rm=( 56.7 10 W m K ) ( 0.95 ) (1 )
9 2 4 2 1
=6.050 W m K
( ( 309.48 K ) ( 298.35 K ) )

Heat transfer coefficient due to convection is calculated by equation:

T s , avgT a 0.25
H cm =1.32( ) (7)
D

As an example, H cm for 9V:

309.48 K298.35 K 0.25

H cm =1.32( ) =7.626 W m2 K1
0.01 m

Total heat transfer coefficient is combination of two values:

H tot =H cm +H rm (8)
H tot for 9V:

H tot =( 6.050 W m2 K 1 ) + ( 7.626 W m2 K 1) =13.676 W m2 K 1

So by equation (1), rate of heat transfer is:

Qtot =( 13.676 W m2 K 1 ) ( 3.14 ) ( 0.01 m )( 0.35 m ) (309.48 K 298.35 K )=1.67 W

Total amount of power supplied from heater is found as:

Q =IV =( 9V ) ( 0.31 A )=2.79 W

All calculated values for different power inputs are shown in Table 3.
Table 3. Calculated values for Heat transfer coefficient and Power for each
measurement.
Current H cm , H rm , H tot ,
Voltage , T s ,avg Qtot Q
,
V C Wm K
2 1
Wm K
2 1
Wm K
2 1
W W
A

9 0.31 36.33 7.626 6.050 13.676 1.67 2.8

12 0.40 42.95 8.482 6.274 14.756 2.76 4.8
14 0.46 47.89 8.988 6.445 15.433 3.65 6.5
 16 0.53 52.74 9.439 6.607 16.046 4.61 8.5
The amount of heat supplied to the rod has been transferred to the fin by
conduction and from the fin to surrounding by combined effect of
convection and radiation. Thermal energy has been spent in order to
increase the temperature of the rod. As explained earlier, in ideal fin
thermal resistance is zero and fin has uniform temperature along the rod.
Heat transfer for idealized fin is given as Q . But in real case some heat
dissipates to surrounding by convection and radiation, and calculated
Qtot corresponds to this value. To account for the effect of decrease in

temperature on heat transfer, the fin efficiency is defined:

Qfin
fin = (9)
Qfin, max
For 9V case:
1.67 W
fin = =0.599
2.79W

In a same manner, for 12V fin is 0.575, for 14V fin is 0.562, for 16V
fin is 0.542.

The assumption made as the uniform thermal condition and constant

cross section wont affect much the final value. Also, it has been assumed
that there is no heat generation and convection heat transfer coefficient
and thermal conductivity remains constant, which can vary along the fin
as well as circumference. Variables used in calculation as T s and T a ,
are the main source of discrepancy. Surface temperature along the rod, as
shown previously, is not uniform. Taken average value of surface
temperature doesnt fully represent the real conditions. So, heat transfer
coefficient can have different values than actual. Also, expressions used
for derivation of H are only estimations, suited only for idealized cases.
Another cause is the readings from the thermocouples. Any change in the
ambient temperature in the laboratory due to natural reasons, causes
fluctuations in amount of heat transferred. Also, any flow of air causes
forced convection and changes the temperature difference. Moreover,
complete steady state might not be reached at certain cases.
Part C
It has been shown that for m:
HP
m 2= (2)
k brass A
where H is total convection and radiation heat transfer coefficient, P is
perimeter and k is conductivity. Which can be rearranged as:
HP (10
k brass = 2
m A )
H tot has been calculated in previous section. So as an example for 9V:
2 1
(13.676 W m K )
k brass =4 =126.58 W m1 K1
1 2
( 6.57 m ) ( 0.01m)

In a same for each of the measurement conductivity has been calculated.

So, k value for fin material is the average of all readings:
4

k
k avg = x=1 =120.39 W m1 K 1
4

All relevant data is shown in Table 4.

Table 4. Calculated value for conductivity of material

Voltage , H tot , mavg ,n , k,

V 2
Wm K
1
m
1
W m1 K 1

9 13.676 6.57 126.58

12 14.756 7.00 120.25
14 15.433 7.21 118.78
16 16.046 7.44 115.96

k avg 120.39

Experimental errors on values such as Hc , Hr , Ts and Ta can be

caused due to the same reasons explained earlier. Readings for L, D and
V, I are sufficiently accurate. Possible divergence of conductivity can be
caused for the same reasons, because same variables have been used for
calculation.
1 1
The suggested thermal conductivity for brass rod is 121 W m K .

Calculated conductivity, k avg , is 120.39 W m1 K 1 . The difference

between two values is very small despite deviations in H tot and mavg .

k th k ex 121120.39
err= 100 = 100 =0.5
k th 121
Conclusion
The experimental work examined thermal characteristics of fin and its
behaviour at different conditions. Temperature of a long rod, connected to
base with power source, has been investigated at different points and
dependence on distance has been constructed. This data has been used
to make a thermal gradient of the rod. In Part A it has been shown that
temperature drops with increasing distance from base. Also, temperature
drops more sharply at the beginning of the fin. In Part B, combined
convection and radiation heat transfer values has been calculated using
temperature distribution. Despite some deviations between experimental
and theoretical supplied power, it gives good estimation about fin
efficiency of the rod. Third part used values for temperatures to find the
thermal conductivity of the material. Calculated value of k is identical with
given conductivity of brass.

Raw data (from Excel)

Temperature
Thermocoupl
Thermocoupl s Ambient Heater Heater Heater
e
e along Temp Voltage Current Power
Location
Description surface Ta V I Qin
x
Tx [C] [V] [A] (W)
[m]
[C ]
Thermocoupl
e T1 0.00 90.79 26.6 16.0 0.5 8.5
Thermocoupl
e T2 0.05 71.79
Thermocoupl
e T3 0.10 57.99
Thermocoupl
e T4 0.15 48.35
Thermocoupl
e T5 0.20 42.57
Thermocoupl
e T6 0.25 38.45
Thermocoupl
e T7 0.30 36.40
Thermocoupl
e T8 0.35 35.62

Temperature
Thermocoupl
Thermocoupl s Ambient Heater Heater Heater
e
e along Temp Voltage Current Power
Location
Description surface Ta V I Qin
x
Tx [C] [V] [A] (W)
[m]
[C ]
Thermocoupl
e T1 0.00 77.83 26.4 14.0 0.5 6.5
Thermocoupl
e T2 0.05 62.99
Thermocoupl
e T3 0.10 52.15
Thermocoupl
e T4 0.15 44.52
Thermocoupl
e T5 0.20 39.87
Thermocoupl
e T6 0.25 36.53
Thermocoupl
e T7 0.30 34.97
Thermocoupl
e T8 0.35 34.29

Temperature
Thermocoupl
Thermocoupl s Ambient Heater Heater Heater
e
e along Temp Voltage Current Power
Location
Description surface Ta V I Qin
x
Tx [C] [V] [A] (W)
[m]
[C ]
Thermocoupl
e T1 0.00 65.75 25.9 12.0 0.4 4.8
Thermocoupl
e T2 0.05 54.55
Thermocoupl
e T3 0.10 46.27
Thermocoupl
e T4 0.15 40.49
Thermocoupl
e T5 0.20 36.92
Thermocoupl
e T6 0.25 34.19
Thermocoupl
e T7 0.30 32.96
Thermocoupl
e T8 0.35 32.44

Temperature
Thermocoupl
Thermocoupl s Ambient Heater Heater Heater
e
e along Temp Voltage Current Power
Location
Description surface Ta V I Qin
x
Tx [C] [V] [A] (W)
[m]
[C ]
Thermocoupl
e T1 0.00 49.94 25.2 9.1 0.3 2.8
Thermocoupl
e T2 0.05 43.41
Thermocoupl
e T3 0.10 38.41
Thermocoupl
e T4 0.15 34.94
Thermocoupl
e T5 0.20 32.80
Thermocoupl
e T6 0.25 30.94
Thermocoupl
e T7 0.30 30.30
Thermocoupl
e T8 0.35 29.94