Assignment 4

Q.1 The governing equation of heat conduction in a fin is given by:

d  dT 
 kA  − hP (T − T∞ ) = 0

g
dx  dx 

hP

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Boundary Condition: T (0) = 100°C ; T∞ = 20°C ; n2 = = 25 m −2
kA
If the end of the bar is insulated, q = 0 .

Ke
Use finite volume method, deduce the explicit equations for the interior points and boundary points 1 and 5. Table
all your results of temperature distribution in the bar δ x = 0.2 m .

δxWP δxPE

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TA

x
w e
Kw
W P E

∆x=δxwe Nodal point

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δx/2 δx δx δx δx δx/2
1 2 3 4 5
TA q=0
H

Answer:
by

Derivation of governing equation dqconv

dAs
Assumptions:
Ac(x)
(1) one-dimensional steady state conditions in the longitudinal (x) direction;
(2) the thermal conductivity k is constant;
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qx qx+dx
(3) radiation from the surface is negligible;
(4) heat generation effects are absent;
(5) the convection heat transfer coefficient h is uniform over the surface.
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dx

The rate at which energy is convected to the fluid from any point on the fin surface must be balanced by the rate at which
energy reaches that point due to conduction in the transverse direction. Applying the conservation of energy requirement,
we obtain
q x = q x + dx + dqconv

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From Fourier’s law,

dT
qx = − kAc
dx

g
where Ac is the cross-sectional area, which may vary with x.

Since the conduction heat rate at x+dx may be expressed as

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dqx
qx + dx = qx + dx
dx

it follows that

Ke
dT d  dT 
qx + dx = − kAc −  kAc  dx
dx dx  dx 

The convection heat transfer rate may be expressed as

dqconv = h dAs (T − T∞ )

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where dAs is the surface area of the differential element.

Substituting the foregoing rate equations into the energy balance equation, we obtain
d  dT  dAs
 kAc −h (T − T∞ ) = 0
Kw
dx  dx  dx

d 2T  1 dAc  dT  1 h dAs 
or +  −  (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx 2  Ac dx  dx  Ac k dx 

This result provides a general form of the energy equation for one-dimensional conditions in an extended surface.

For the prescribed fins, Ac is a constant and As = Px , where As is the surface area measured from the base to x and P is the
O

dAc dAs
fin perimeter. Accordingly, with = 0 and = P , the above equation reduces to
dx dx
H

d  dT 
 kAc  − hP (T − T∞ ) = 0
dx  dx 
by

Evaluation of Exact Solution

To simplify the form of this equation, we transform the dependent variable by defining an excess temperature θ as
θ ( x) ≡ T ( x) − T∞
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dθ dT
where, since T∞ is a constant, = .
dx dx
Do

Substituting the above equation to the governing equation, we then obtain

d 2θ
− n 2θ = 0
dx 2

hP
where n 2 =
kAc

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The above equation is a linear homogeneous second-order differential equation with constant coefficients. Its general
solution is of the form
θ ( x) = C1enx + C2 e − nx

g
Also

dθ d
= ( C1e nx + C2 e − nx ) = nC1e nx − nC2 e − nx = n ( C1e nx − C2 e − nx )

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dx dx

Given the first boundary condition at the base of the fin, x = 0 , is TA.
θ (0) = TA − T∞ = θ b

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From the first boundary condition, we obtain
θ b = C1 + C2

The second boundary condition, specified at the fin tip, x = L , is given that the tip is treated as thermal insulated or
adiabatic, i.e.

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qL = 0

Hence

 dθ   dθ 
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qL = −k   =0 ⇒   =0
 dx  x = L  dx  x = L

From the above condition, we then obtain

C1e nL − C2 e− nL = 0

Using this expression and expression derived from first condition to solve for C1 and C2 and substituting the results into
O

the general solution of θ(x), we obtain

θ cosh n ( L − x )
=
θb cosh nL
H

Substituting all the known constants and rearrange the above equation, we have
cosh n ( L − x )
T = T∞ + (TA − T∞ )
cosh nL
by

Given m = 5, δ x = 0.2, L = mδ x = 5 × 0.2 = 1, n 2 = 25, TA = T (0) = 100°C, T∞ = 20°C

cosh 5 (1 − x )
T = 20 + (100 − 20 ) = 20 + 1.078 cosh 5 (1 − x )
cosh 5
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We can find the exact solution of five nodal points temperature from the above numerical values and tabulate as below:

Node 1 2 3 4 5
x (m) 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9
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Temperature (°C) 68.5262 37.8659 26.6107 22.5360 21.2156

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Evaluation of Approximated Solution by Finite Volume Method

When kA = constant, the governing equation can be written as

d  dT  hP x
 − (T − T∞ ) = 0

g
dx  dx  kA Nodal Point δx Control Volume
d  dT  2

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⇒   − n (T − T∞ ) = 0 TA ...
... qL=0
dx  dx  1 2 3 4 m-1 m

hP δx/2 δx δx δx δx δx/2
where n 2 = .
kA
L

Ke
Consider integrating of the equation over a control volume shown as the shaded part in the Assignment Figure
d  dT 
∫ dx  dx  dV − ∫ n (T − T ) dV = 0
2
∞
δV δV

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The above integral equation can approximate in the shaded control volume as
 dT   dT    dT   dT  
 − A   −  n (TP − T∞ ) A δ xwe  = 0 ⇒  −   −  n (TP − T∞ ) δ xwe  = 0
2 2
 A 
 dx e  dx  w   dx e  dx w 
Kw
By using linear approximation of the first derivative at the boundary surface of control volume, we have
 TE − TP   TP − TW 
−   −  n (TP − T∞ ) δ xwe  = 0
2

 δ xPE   δ xWP 

Consider the fin is divided into m equal volumes with volume width δx.
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For nodal point i = 2, 3 and m–1, δ xWP = δ xPE = δ xwe = δ x and TP = Ti , TW = Ti −1 , TE = Ti +1

 Ti +1 − Ti   Ti − Ti −1  
 −  δ x   −  n ( Ti − T∞ ) δ x  = 0
2
 δ x
H

   

 2   1   1 
⇒   Ti =   Ti −1 +   Ti +1 + n δ xT∞ − n δ xTi
2 2

 δ x   δ x   δ x 
by

δx
For first nodal point i = 1, δ xWP = , δ xPE = δ xwe = δ x and TP = T1 , TW = TA , TE = T2
2

  
 T2 − T1  −  T1 − TA   −  n 2 (T1 − T∞ ) δ x  = 0
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 
 δ x   δ x   
  2 

 1   1   2 2   2 
⇒   T1 =   T2 +  n δ xT∞ + TA  −  n 2δ x +  T1
δ x δ x  δx   δx
Do

It is given that the flux across the east face boundary of last nodal point m is zero, i.e.
qe = 0

 dT   dT 
∴ qe =  −kA  =0 ⇒   =0
 dx e  dx e

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For last nodal point i = m, δ xWP = δ xwe = δ x and TP = Tm , TW = Tm −1

  Tm − Tm −1  
0 −  δ x   −  n (Tm − T∞ ) δ x  = 0
2

  

g
 1   1 
⇒   Tm =   Tm −1 + n δ xT∞ − n δ xTm
2 2

 δ x   δ x 

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By summarizing above equations, we can write all nodal points i = 1, 2, 3, …, m in general equation form of
aP(i )TP(i ) = aW(i )TW(i ) + aE(i )TE(i ) + Su(i )
with

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Node aW aE aP Sp Su
1  2  2
1 0 aW + aE − S p −  n 2δ x +  n 2δ xT∞ + TA
δx  δ x δx
1 1
2, 3, …, m–1 aW + aE − S p − n 2δ x n 2δ xT∞

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δx δx
1
m 0 aW + a E − S p −n2δ x n 2δ xT∞
δx
Kw
When combining the above equations to matrix form, we have

 aP(1) − aE(1) 0 0 " 0 0 0 0   T1   Su(1) 

 (2)    
 − aW −a
(2) (2)
a P E 0 " 0 0 0 0   T2   Su(2) 
 0 −a (3)
W a (3)
P − aE(3) " 0 0 0 0   T3   Su(3) 
    
 0 0 −a (4)
W a (4)
P " 0 0 0 0   T4   Su(4) 
 # # # # % # # # #  #  =  # 
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    
 0 0 0 0 " aP( m − 3) − aE( m − 3) 0 0  Tm −3   Su( m − 3) 
 " − aW( m − 2) aP( m − 2) − aE( m − 2) 0  Tm − 2   Su( m − 2) 
 0 0 0 0
 
 0 0 0 0 " 0 − aW( m −1) aP( m −1) − aE( m −1)   Tm −1   Su( m −1) 
H

    
 0 0 0 0 " 0 0 − aW( m ) aP( m )   Tm   Su( m ) 

From this assignment, it is given that

by

m = 5, δ x = 0.2, n 2 = 25, TA = T (0) = 100°C, T∞ = 20°C

Substituting above numerical values gives the coefficients

Node aW aE aP Sp Su
ne

1 0 5 20 –15 1100
2, 3, 4 5 5 15 –5 100
5 5 0 10 –5 100
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The matrix form of the equations is then

 20 −5 0 0 0  T1  1100 
 −5 15 −5 0 0  T   100 
  2  
 0 −5 15 −5 0  T3  =  100 
    
 0 0 −5 15 −5 T4   100 
 0 0 0 −5 10  T5   100 

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Using Excel or Matlab, the above matrix can be solved to

 T1   0.0553 0.0211 0.0081 0.0033 0.0016 1100

T   0.0211 0.0846 0.0325 0.0130 0.0065  100 
 2 
T3  =  0.0081 0.0325 0.0894 0.0358 0.0179   100 

g
    
T4   0.0033 0.0130 0.0358 0.0943 0.0472  100 
T5  0.0016 0.0065 0.0179 0.0472 0.1236   100 

un
 64.2276 
36.9106 
 
=  26.5041
 
 22.6016 

Ke
 21.3008 

Temperature Distribution of Fin

100

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90
Exact Solution
FVM Approximated Solution
80 FVM Approximated Solution
Kw
Temperature T (° C)

70

60

50
O

40
H

30

20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
by

Distance x (m)
ne
Do

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