DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN FIN

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

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 and effectiveness

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.
HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

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

Thermal conductivity of fin material (Brass) kfin

110 W/(m.K)

Manometric fluid is water with density m = 1000 kg/m3

Temperature Sensor No.6 reads ambient temperature in the inside of the duct.

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

OBSERVATIONS
1.

Voltmeter reading:

______ V

2.

Ammeter reading:

______ A
Fin temperature, oC

t1

t2

t3

t4

t5

(x=2.5 cm)

(x=5.0 cm)

(x=7.5 cm)

(x=10.0

(x=12.5

cm)

cm)

Experiment

Free

Air
temp.

t6

Manometer
reading
(cm)

( C)
NA

convection
Forced
convection
DATA REDUCTION
Area of fin (m2)
The cross sectional area A of the fin is evaluated using
A = d2 /4
where d is the diameter of the fin
Circumference of pin fin (m)
Circumference P of pin fin is evaluated using
P d
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)

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The hydraulic diameter of duct dh is computed using

dh

2 W H
W H

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

1.195 10 3 T 1.6
(W/m.K)
118 T
3

air

1.488 10 6 T 2 (N.s/m2)

118 T

c p, air (1 2.5 10 10 T 3 ) 10 3

air (3.4833 10 2 )

(J/kg.K)

Pair
(kg/m3), (P is in bar)
Tair

air

air
air

All properties are estimated at air temperature T in K.

Manometric Head (m)
The manometric head Hm is calculated using
m

H m R

air

where R denotes the manometer reading and m 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)

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

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
Nu

hd
k air

The Nusselt number Nu is calculated using appropriate relation

Nu = 0.53 (Gr Pr)1/4 (for 104 < Gr. Pr < 1010)
where Gr and Pr denote the Grashof and Prandtl numbers respectively. The same is computed
using
Gr

gTd 3
2
air

c P, air air
k air

Pr

g is the acceleration due to gravity

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
f

1 sinh( mL) ( h / mK f ) cosh( mL)

mL cosh(mL) ( h / mK f ) sinh( mL)

where L is the fin length and m is fin parameter

The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from
m

hP
kf A

CALCULATIONS FOR FORCED CONVECTION

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

air to the test section is calculated from

The mass flowrate of air m
air air AoVo
m

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

2 gH m
d
1 o
di

where do and di denote the orifice diameter and internal diameter of the delivery pipe
respectively and Cd is coefficient of discharge (Orifice meter) = 0.64
The test section velocity Vt is computed using
do
dh

V t Vo

Tm,f

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 h
air

Re

where the mass flux or mass velocity G of air is

G airV t

The forced convection heat transfer coefficient is now evaluated using

Nu

hd
k air

The Nusselt number Nu in previous equation is calculated using

Nu = C (Re)m Pr1/3
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

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

The fin efficiency is computed using

f

1 sinh( mL) (h / mk f ) cosh(mL)

mL cosh(mL) (h / mk f ) sinh( mL)

where L is the fin length and m is the fin parameter.

The fin parameter m in the above equation is evaluated from
m

hP
kf A

CALCULATION OF FIN EFFECTIVENESS

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

Fin surface area

Fin base area

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

EXERCISES:
1. Determine the fin efficiency and effectiveness for free / natural convection condition.
2. Determine the fin efficiency and effectiveness for forced convection condition.
3. Plot the temperature of fin surface (T) vs. fin i.e., distance from fin base (x) at
different time.

NOMENCLATURE:
A

Cross sectional area of fin

Ad

Cross sectional area of duct

cp,air

Specific heat capacity of air

Coefficient of orifice

Fin diameter

dh

Hydraulic diameter of the duct

do

Diameter of orifice

Acceleration due to gravity

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Mass velocity

Gr

Grashof number

Heat transfer coefficient

Height of rectangular duct

Hm

Manometer Head

Ammeter reading

Thermal conductivity of metal

kair

thermal conductivity of air

Fin length.

Fin parameter

Nu

Nusselt number

Fin perimeter

Pr

Prandtl number

Manometer Reading

tav,fin

Average fin temperature in Celsius

tm,f

Mean fluid temperature in Celsius

Thermodynamic temperature

To

Thermodynamic temperature of air at the exit of the orifice

Tm,f

Thermodynamic mean temperature of the fluid.

Voltmeter reading

Vt

Velocity of air through the duct

Vo

Velocity of air through the orifice

Width of rectangular duct

Fin effectiveness

air

Dynamic viscosity of air

air

Absolute viscosity of air

air

Density of air

Density of manometric fluid

PRECAUTIONS & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Use stable AC Single phase supply only.
HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

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.
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
Updated on 30/07/2016

HEAT TRANSFER FROM A PIN-FIN

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