DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN FIN

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN 1

 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN FIN

OBJECTIVE

Study of heat transfer from a pin fin

AIM

1. To study the temperature distribution along the length of a pin fin under free and forced
convection heat transfer conditions
2. To determine fin efficiency

INTRODUCTION

Extended surfaces or fins are used to increase the heat transfer rate from a surface to a
fluid wherever it is not possible to increase the value of the surface heat transfer coefficient or
the temperature difference between the surface and the fluid. Fin surface stick out from
primary heat transfer surface. The temperature difference with surrounding fluid will steadily
diminish as one move out along the fin. The design of the fins therefore requires knowledge
of the temperature distribution in the pin fin.
Fins are commonly used and are fabricated in a variety of shapes. Circumferential fins
around the cylinder of a motorcycle engine and fins attached to condenser tubes of a
refrigerator are few familiar examples.

DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS

The apparatus consists of a test section in the form of a rectangular duct containing a pin-fin.
There is provision for heating the surface of the fin. The power dissipated is obtained by
measuring the potential drop across the heater terminals and the current. A variable
transformer allows continuous adjustment of heater power which can be estimated from
voltage and current measurements (recorded using digital voltmeter and ammeter
respectively). Air is supplied to the test section using a blower. An orifice fitted with a U-tube
manometer is used to measure flow rate of air through the duct. Five RTD sensors are
embedded on the surface of the fin to measure surface temperatures. In addition one more
RTD sensor facilitates measurement of air temperature through the duct. The sensor output is
recorded using a digital temperature indicator with multi-channel switch.

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

UTILITIES REQUIRED

Electricity Supply: 1 Phase, 220 V AC, 5 Amps.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

PART A: NATURAL CONVECTION

1. Switch on the main power supply to the set-up. Start heating the fin by switching on the
heater element and adjust the voltage to some desired value (may be set prior to the start
of the experiment). Observe the readings on the 5 temperature sensors attached to the fin
surface. Allow the system to reach steady state.
2. When steady state is reached, record the readings of temperature sensors (nos. 1 – 5).
Also note the fluid temperature reading indicated by sensor no. 6.
3. Repeat the same experiment at different voltages if possible (consult the instructor on
this).

PART B: FORCED CONVECTION

1. For the same test voltage in Part A, start the blower allowing air to flow over
the pin fin. Ensure that the fly-valve at the outlet of the test section is fully open. Observe
the readings on the 5 temperature sensors attached to the fin surface. Allow the system to
reach steady state.
2. When steady state is reached, record the readings of temperature sensors (Nos.
1 – 5). Also note the fluid temperature reading indicated by sensor no. 6.

SPECIFICATIONS

Duct size : 1000 mm x 150 mm x 100 mm

Diameter of the fin : 12.7 mm
Length of the fin : 125 mm
Diameter of the orifice : 26 mm
Internal diameter of the delivery pipe : 52 mm
Coefficient of discharge (Orifice meter) Cd : 0.64
Thermal conductivity of fin material (Brass) : 110 W/(m.K)
Manometric fluid is water with density ρ m = 1000 kg/m3
Temperature Sensor No.6 reads ambient temperature in the inside of the duct.

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

OBSERVATIONS

1. Voltmeter reading: ______ V

2. Ammeter reading: ______ A

Fin temperature, oC Air Manometer

t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 temp. reading
Experiment
t6 (cm)
(x=2.5 cm) (x=5.0 cm) (x=7.5 cm) (x=10.0 (x=12.5 o
( C)
cm) cm)
Free
convection
Forced
convection

DATA REDUCTION

Area of fin (m2)

The cross sectional area A of the fin is evaluated using

A = π d2 /4
where d is the diameter of the fin

Circumference of pin fin (m)

Circumference P of pin fin is evaluated using

P =pd

where d is the diameter of the fin

Area of rectangular duct (m2)

The cross sectional area Ad of the rectangular duct is evaluated from

Ad = W × H
where W and H denote the width and height of the duct respectively

Hydraulic diameter of duct (m)

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The hydraulic diameter of duct dh is computed using

2 W  H
dh =
W H

Properties of air

The thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat and density of air is evaluated thus

1.195  10 3 T 1.6
k air = (W/m.K)
118  T
3
1.488  10 6 T 2 (N.s/m2)
μ air =
118  T

c p, air = (1  2.5  10 10 T 3 )  10 3 (J/kg.K)

Pair
ρ air = (3.4833  10 2 ) (kg/m3), (P is in bar)
Tair

μ air
 air =
ρ air

All properties are estimated at tair

Manometric Head (m)

The manometric head Hm is calculated using

 ρ 
H m = R  m  1
 ρ air 

where R denotes the manometer reading and ρm is the density of the manometric fluid.

Average temperature of fin (oC)

The average temperature of fin is calculated using

Mean temperature of the fluid (oC)

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The mean fluid, i.e. air temperature tm,f is evaluated thus

where ta = t6 (refer observation Table)

CALCULATIONS FOR FREE CONVECTION

The free convection heat transfer coefficient is evaluated from

hd
Nu =
k air

The Nusselt number Nu is calculated using

Nu = 0.53 (Gr Pr)1/4

where Gr and Pr denote the Grashof and Prandtl numbers respectively. The same is computed
using
gβTd 3
Gr = 2
 air

 c P, air μ air 
Pr =  
 k air 

g is the acceleration due to gravity

b is the coefficient of volume expansion (1/K) and is computed using 1 / Tm,f

∆T = tav,fin - ta

Calculation of fin efficiency

The fin efficiency  is computed using
tanh(mL)
f =
mL
where L is the fin length and m is fin parameter
The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from
hP
m=
kA

CALCULATIONS FOR FORCED CONVECTION

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The mass flowrate of air m

 air to the test section is calculated from

 air = ρ air AoVo

m

where Vo is the air velocity in m/s through the orifice. The same is evaluated using

2 gH m
Vo = C 4
d 
1   o 
 di 

where do and di denote the orifice diameter and internal diameter of the delivery pipe
respectively

The test section velocity Vt is computed using

2
d   Tm,f 
V t = Vo  o   
 dh   To 
where dh denotes the duct hydraulic diameter. To denotes the thermodynamic temperature at
the exit of the orifice, i.e. ambient

The Reynolds number (Re) of the fluid in the duct is evaluated from

 Gd 
Re =  h 
 μ air 

where the mass flux or ‘mass velocity’ G of air is

G = ρ airV t

The forced convection heat transfer coefficient is now evaluated using

hd
Nu =
k air

The Nusselt number Nu in previous equation is calculated using

Nu = C (Re)mPr1/3

Where C = 0.911, m = 0.385, for 4 < Re <40, C = 0.683, m = 0.466 for 40 < Re < 4000, and
C = 0.193, m = 0.618 for 4000 < Re < 40000.

Calculation of fin efficiency

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The fin efficiency  is computed using

tanh(mL)
f =
mL
where L is the fin length and m is the fin parameter.

The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from

hP
m=
kA

CALCULATION OF FIN EFFECTIVENESS

For the case of natural and forced convection, the fin effectiveness is computed using

Fin surface area

ε= η
Fin base area

The base area of the fin is the same as cross sectional area.

RESULTS:
1. Plot and compare the temperature distribution along the length of a pin fin under free and
forced convection heat transfer conditions.
2. For free convection, the fin efficiency is determined to be ................ and fin effectiveness
as ........................
3. For forced convection, the fin efficiency is determined to be ................ and fin
effectiveness as ........................

NOMENCLATURE:
A Cross sectional area of fin
Ad Cross sectional area of duct
cp,air Specific heat capacity of air
C Coefficient of orifice
d Fin diameter
dh Hydraulic diameter of the duct
do Diameter of orifice
g Acceleration due to gravity
G Mass velocity

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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Gr Grashof number
h Heat transfer coefficient
H Height of rectangular duct
Hm Manometer Head
I Ammeter reading
k Thermal conductivity
kair thermal conductivity of air
L Fin length.
m Fin parameter
Nu Nusselt number
P Fin perimeter
Pr Prandtl number
R Manometer Reading
tav,fin Average fin temperature in Celsius
tm,f Mean fluid temperature in Celsius
T Thermodynamic temperature
To Thermodynamic temperature of air at the exit of the orifice
Tm,f Thermodynamic mean temperature of the fluid.
V Voltmeter reading
Vt Velocity of air through the duct
Vo Velocity of air through the orifice
W Width of rectangular duct
e Fin effectiveness
air Dynamic viscosity of air
air Absolute viscosity of air
air Density of air
m Density of manometric fluid

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Use stable AC Single phase supply only.

2. Never switch on mains power supply before ensuring that all the ON/OFF switches given
on the panel are in OFF position.
3. Regulate and change voltage supply to the heater in a slow manner.
4. Never run the apparatus if supply voltage is less than 180 volts and above than 240 volts.
5. Operate selector switch of temperature indicator gently.
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 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

6. Always keep the apparatus free from dust.

REFERENCES
1. Holman, J.P., Heat Transfer, 9th edition, McGraw Hill, NY, 2004
2. Incropera, F. P. and Dewitt, D. P., Heat and Mass transfer, 5th Edition, 2002

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