Heat transfer / Lab Manual (A60387)

HEAT TRANSFER FROM PIN-FIN APPARATUS.

INTRODUCTION :

Extended surfaces of 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 & the fluid.
The use of this is very common & they are fabricated in a variety of shapes. Fig 1.
Circumferential fins around the cylinder of a motor cycle engine & fins attached to
condenser tubes of a refrigerator are a few familiar examples.
It is obsious that a fin surface sticks out from the primary heat transfer surface. The
temperature difference with surrounding fluid will steadily diminish as one moves out along
the fin. The design of the temperature distribution is the fin. The main object of this
experimental set up is to study the temperature distribution in a simple pun fin.

APPARATUS :

A brass fin of circular cross section is fitted across a long rectangular

duct. The other end of heater is connected to the suction side of blower a the air
flows fast through the fin perpendicular to its axis. One end of the fin products out side
the duct & is heated by the heater. Temperature at five points along the length of the fin
are measured by Chromel Allumel Thermocouples connected along the length of the fin.
The air flow rate is measured by Orifice meter fitted on the delivery side of blower.
Schematic diagram of setup is shown in fig. 2. While the details of the pin fin as shown in fig.
3.
SPECIFICATIONS :

1. Duct size : 150 mm. x 100 mm.

2. Dia. of the Fin : 12.7 mm.

3. Dia. of the Orifice : 32 mm.

4. Dia of delivery pipe : 50 mm.

5. Coefficient of discharge Cd: 0.64 mm.

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6. Centrifugal Blower : single phase Motor.

7. No. of thermocouples on fin : 5

1 to 5 as shown in fig. 3.

8. Thermocouple (6). reads ambient temperature inside of the duct.

9. Thermal Conductivity of fin material ( Brass) :

95 Kcal/hr-m- oC. (In MKS Units)

110 W/m o
C. (In SI Units)

10. Temperature indicator : 0 - 300 o C.

with compensation of ambient temp. upto 50 o C.
11. Dimmerstat for heat input control 230 V 2 Amps.
12. Heater suitable for mounting at the fin end outside the duct : 400 W
( Band type).
13. Voltmeter : 0 - 100 / 200 V.

14. Ammeter : 0 - 2 Amps

THEORY :

Consider the fin connected to its base to a heated wall & transferring heat to the
surrounding (Fig. 4).
Let,
A = Cross Sectional area of the fin.

C = Circumference of the fin.

L = Length of the fin.

Ti = Average Temperature of the fin

TF = Duct fluid temperature.

ø = (Ti - TF) = Rise in temperature.

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The heat is conducted along the rod & also lost to the surrounding fluid by convection.
Let,
h = Heat Transfer Coefficient.

K = Thermal Conductivity of the fin material.

Applying the first law of thermodynamics to a controlled volume along

the length of the fin at X, the resulting equation of heat balance appears as :

d2 ø - h.C ,ø = 0. ..................(1).
dx2 K.A

and the general solution of equation (1) is -

ø = C1 . emx + C2 . e-mx ...................(2).

Where,

m=

with the boundary conditions of ø = ø1 at x = 0.

Where,

ø1 = Tl - TF & assuming the fin tip to be insulated.

dø = 0 at x = L results in obtaining equation (2)

dx
in the form :

ø T - TF = Cosh m ( L - x) ......(3)
ø T l - TF Cosh mL

This is the equation for the temperature distribution along the length of the fin. It is
seen from the equation that for a fin of given geometry with uniform cross section,
the temperature at any point can be calculated by knowing the values if T l , TF
& X. Temperature T1 & TF will be known for a given situation & the value of h
depends on whether the heat is lost to the surrounding by free convection or
forced convection & can be obtained by using the correlation as given below :

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1. For free convection condition :

Nu = 1.1 (Gr.Pr)1/6 .... ....... .......10 -1

< Gr.Pr. < 104
Nu = 0.53 (Gr.Pr)1/4 .... ....... .......10 4
< Gr.Pr. < 109
Nu = 0.13 (Gr.Pr)1/4 .... ....... .......10 9
< Gr.Pr. < 1012
2. For forced convection,

Nu = 0.165 (Re) 0.466 ....... 40 < Re < 4000.

Nu = 0.174 (Re) 0.618 ....... 4000 < Re < 40000.

Where,
h.D
Nu =
kAir.

VD VD
Re = OR = Reynold’s Number.
 

g .  . L3 . T = Grashoff Number.
Gr =
2

Cp .  = Prandtl Number.
Pr =
K Air

All properties are to be evaluated at the mean film temperature. The

mean film temperature is the arithmetic average of the fin temperature
& air temperature.

NOMENCLATURE :

 = Density of air, Kg/m3.

D = Diameter of pin fin, m.

 = Dynamic Viscosity, kgf.sec./m2. (In MKS Units)

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N.sec./m2 . ( In SI Units).

Cp = Specific heat, Kcal/Kg./ o

C. (In MKS Units).
KJ/Kg.k (In SI Units).

 = Kinematic Viscosity, m2/sec.

o
K = Thermal conductivity of air, Kcal/hr.m C
(In MKS Units).
W/m o C.
( In SI Units).

g = Acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/sec2.

Tm = Average fin temperature

(T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5 )
=
5.
 T = Tm - TF.

Tm + TF.
TmF =
2

 = Mean temperature

1
=
TmF + 273

V = Velocity of air in the duct.

The velocity of air can be obtained by calculating the volume flow rate through the duct.

Q = Cd x  d2 x m3/Sec
4
Where,

H = Difference of levels in manometer, M

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W = Density of water = 1000 Kg/m3.

a = Density of air at Tf.

Cd = 0.64

d = Diameter of the orifice = 32 mm.

Velocity of air at (V) Tf =

Q = m/sec.

duct c/s Area

Velocity of air at Tmf =

Tmf + 273
Vx = m/sec.
Tf + 273

Use this velocity in the calculation of Re.

The rate of heat transfer from the fin can be calculated as

q= x (Tl - Tf) Tanh mL ........(6)

& the effectiveness of the fin can also be calculated as,

Tanh mL
 = ..........(7).
mL

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE :

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To study the temperature distribution along the length of a pin fin in

natural & forced conviction, the procedure is as under.
(I) Natural Convection.

1. Start heating the fin by switching ON the heater element & adjust the
voltage on dimmerstat to say 80 V (Increase slowly from 0 onwards).
2. Note down the thermocouple readings 1 - 5.
3. When steady state is reached, record the final readings 1 - 5 & also record
the ambient temperature reading 6.
4. Repeat the same experiment with voltage 100 V 120 V.

PRECAUTIONS :
1. See that throughout the experiment, the blower is OFF.

(II) Forced Convection :

1. Start heating the fin by switching ON the heater element & adjust the
voltage on dimmerstat to say 100 V

2. Start the blower & adjust the difference of level in the manometer with
the help of gate valve.

3. Note down the thermocouple readings 1 - 5. at a time interval of 5 min.

4. When the steady state is reached, record the final readings (1) - (5)
& also record the ambient temperature readings (6).

5. Repeat the same experiment with different manometer readings.

PRECAUTIONS :

1. See that the dimmerstat is at zero position before switching NO

the heater.

2. Operate the changeover switch of temperature indicator, gently,

3. Be sure that the steady state is reached before taking the final readings.

OBSERVATION TABLE.

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I Natural Convection :

Sr No V (volts) I (Amps) Fin Temperature( o C) Amb.(oC)

T1 T2 T3 T4 Temp.
T5 T6 = TF
1
2
3
4

II Forced Convection :

Sr No V (volts) I (Amps) Manometer Fin Temperature( o C) Amb.(oC)

readings (mm) T1 T2 T 3 T4 T5 Temp.
T6 = TF
1
2
3
4

RESULTS FROM EXPERIMENTS :

(I) Natural Convection :

1. Plot the temperature distribution along the length of the fin from
observed readings. (Fig 5)

2. Calculate Gr , Pr & obtain Nu from the equation (4) & finally get the
value of h in natural convection.

3. Calculate the value of m & obtain the temperature at various

locations along the length of the fin by using equation (3) & plot
them (fig 5)

4. Calculate the values of heat transfer rate from the fin & the fin
effectiveness by using equation (6) & (7).
5. Repeat the same procedure for all other sets of observations.

(II) Forced Convection :

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1. Plot the temperature distribution along the length of the fin from observe
readings (Fig. 6)
2. Calculate the value of m & obtain the temperatures at various
locations along the length of fin by using equation (3) & plot them.
(fig. 6).

3. Calculate Re & Pr & obtain Nu from equation (5).

4. Calculate the value of heat transfer rate from the fin & the fin
effectiveness by using equation (6) & (7).

5. Repeat the same procedure for all other sets of observations.

CALCULATIONS :

I) Comment on the observed temperature distribution & calculation by

using the theory. It is expected that observed temperature should
be slightly less than their corresponding calculated values by radiation.
II) The insulated tip boundary condition can be visualised on the plot of
calculated temperatures.

In MKS Units In SI Units

K Brass = 95 Kcal/hr.m. o C. 110 w/m- o C

K Steel = 40 Kcal/hr.m. o C 46.5 w/m- o C

K Al = 200 Kcal/hr.m. o C 232 w/m- o C

(I) NATURAL CONVECTION :

1. Average fin temperature (Tm )

T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5
=
5.
Where,

T1 to T5 = Temperature of Fin

2. Average Temperature of Fin and Fluid (TmF)

Tm + TF.

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 Heat transfer / Lab Manual (A60387)

=
2
Where,

Tm = Mean Temperature of Fin

TF = T6 = Temp. of Fluid (Air)

3. Properties of Air at (TmF )

i. Thermal Conductivity Kair = W /m OK

ii. Kinematic Viscosity  = m2/S
iii. Gravitational Acceleration g = 9.81 m2/Sec
iv. Prandil Number Pr =
v. Density  = Kg/m3
vi.  : Coefficient of Volumetric expansion  = 1/( TmF+273) K-1
vii. Dynamic Viscosity  = N.S/m2 OR Kg/m3

4. Grashoff Number (Gr)

g .  . L3 . T
=
2 . T = Tm - TF

5. Nussel Number (Nu)

Nu = 1.1 (Gr.Pr)1/6 .... ....... .......10 -1

< Gr.Pr. < 104
Nu = 0.53 (Gr.Pr)1/4 .... ....... .......10 4
< Gr.Pr. < 109
Nu = 0.13 (Gr.Pr)1/4 .... ....... .......10 9
< Gr.Pr. < 1012
6. Heat Transfer Co-Efficient (h) :

Nu x KAir
=
D
Where,

D = Diameter of Fin
7. Slope (m) :

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=
Where,

c = Circumference of Fin
A = Area of Fin

8. Effectiveness of Fin ( )

tanhmL
=
mL

(II) Forced Convection :

1. Average fin temperature (Tm )

T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5
=
5.
Where,

T1 to T5 = Temperature of Fin

2. Average Temperature of Fin and Fluid (TmF)

Tm + TF.
=
2
Where,

Tm = Mean Temperature of Fin

TF = T6 = Temp. of Fluid (Air)

3. Properties of Air at (TmF )

i. Thermal Conductivity Kair = W /m OK

ii. Dynamic Viscosity  = N.S/m2 OR Kg/m3
iii. Density  = Kg/m3

4. Discharge of Air in the Duct (Q) :

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
= Cd 4 x d2 x

5. Velocity of Air in the Duct at TF (v) :

Q
= m/sec.
duct c/s Area

6. Velocity of Air in the Duct at TmF (V) :

Tmf + 273
= Vx m/sec.
Tf + 273

7. Reynolds Number :

VD
Re =


8. Nussel Number (Nu) :

Nu = 0.165 (Re) 0.466 ....... 40 < Re < 4000.

Nu = 0.174 (Re) 0.618 ....... 4000 < Re < 40000.

9. Heat Transfer Co-Efficient (h) :

Nu x KAir
=
D
Where,

D = Diameter of Fin
10. Slope (m) :

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Where,

c = Circumference of Fin
A = Area of Fin
11. Effectiveness of Fin ( )

tanhmL
=
mL

REFERENCES :

1. A text book on Heat Transfer by Dr S.P. Sukhatme.

2. Principles of Heat Transfer by F Kreith Ix, 4ll.

HEAT TRANSFER FROM PIN-FIN APPARATUS.

AIM : Study and calculate the efficiency of fin in natural & forced convection

SPECIFICATIONS :

1. Duct size : 150 mm. x 100 mm.

2. Dia. of the Fin : 12.7 mm.

3. Dia. of the Orifice : 32 mm.

4. Dia of delivery pipe : 50 mm.

5. Coefficient of discharge Cd : 0.64 mm.

6. No. of thermocouples on fin : 5

7. Thermocouple (6). reads ambient temperature inside of the duct.

8. Thermal Conductivity of fin material ( Brass) :

95 Kcal/hr-m- oC. (In MKS Units)

110 W/m o K . (In SI Units)

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OBSERVATION TABLE.

I Natural Convection :

Sr No V (volts) I (Amps) Fin Temperature( o C) Amb.(oC)

T1 T2 T3 T4 Temp.
T5 T6 = TF
1 94 0.7 92 93 88 81 82 33
2
3
4

SAMPLE CALCULATION :

1. Average fin temperature (Tm )

T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5
=
5
Where,

T1 to T5 = Temperature of Fin

92 + 93 + 88 + 81 + 82
=
5

= 87.5 O
C

2. Average Temperature of Fin and Fluid (TmF)

Tm + TF.
=
2
Where,

Tm = Mean Temperature of Fin

TF = T6 = Temp. of Fluid (Air)
87.5 + 33
=
2

= 60.1 OC = 60 OC

3. Properties of Air at (TmF ) = 60 OC

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i. Thermal Conductivity Kair = 28.96 x 10 -3 W /m OK

ii. Kinematic Viscosity  = 18.97 x 10 -6 m2/S
iii. Gravitational Acceleration g = 9.81 m2/Sec
iv. Prandil Number Pr = 0.696
v. Density  = 1.060 Kg/m3
vi.  : Coefficient of Volumetric expansion  = 1/( TmF+273) K-1
= 1/(60+273)
= 3.00 x 10 –3 O
K -1
vii. Dynamic Viscosity  = 20.10 x 10 –6 N.S/m2 OR Kg/m3

4. Grashoff Number (Gr)

g .  . L3 . T
=
2  T = Tm - T F

9.81 x 3.00 x 10 –3 x (0.15)3 x (87.5 – 33)

=
(18.97 x 10 –6 )2

= 15.04 x 10 6

5. Gr . Pr = 15.04 x 10 6 x 0.696

= 10.46 x 10 6

6. Nussel Number (Nu) :

Nu = 0.53 (Gr.Pr)1/4 .... ....... .......10 4

< Gr.Pr. < 109
= 0.53 x (10.46 x 10 6) 0.25

= 30.14

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7. Heat Transfer Co-Efficient (h) :

Nu x KAir
=
D
Where,

D = Diameter of Fin

30.14 x 28.96 x 10 -3
=
0.15

= 5.820 Watt/m O
K

8. Slope (m) :

=
Where,

c = Circumference of Fin
= 3.14 x 0.0127
A = Area of Fin
= 1.26 x 10 –4

5.82 x 3.14 x 0.0127

=
110 x 1.26 x 10 –4

= 4.092

9. Effectiveness of Fin ( )

Tanh(mL)
=
mL

tanh ( 4.092 x 0.15)

=
4.092 x 0.15

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= 89.08 %

(II) Forced Convection :

Sr No V (volts) I (Amps) Manometer Fin Temperature( o C) Amb.(oC)

readings (mm) T1 T2 T 3 T4 T5 Temp.
T6 = TF
1 91 0.65 52 76 71 64 58 56 31
2
3
4

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS :

1. Average fin temperature (Tm )

T1 + T2 + T3 + T4 + T5
=
5
Where,

T1 to T5 = Temperature of Fin

76 + 71 + 64 + 58 + 56
=
5

= 65 O
C

2. Average Temperature of Fin and Fluid (TmF)

Tm + TF.
=
2
Where,

Tm = Mean Temperature of Fin

TF = T6 = Temp. of Fluid (Air)

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65 + 31
=
2

= 48 = 50 O
C

3. Properties of Air at (TmF ) = 50 O

C

i. Thermal Conductivity Kair = 28.26 x 10 -3 W /m OK

ii. Density  = 1.093 Kg/m3
iii. Dynamic Viscosity  = 19.61 x 10 –6 N.S/m2 OR Kg/m3

4. Discharge of Air in the Duct (Q) :


= Cd 4 x d2 x

2 x 9.81 x 0.052 x 1000

2
= 0.64 x  /4 x ( 0.032) x
1.093

= 15.72 x 10 –3 m3/S

5. Velocity of Air in the Duct at TF (v) :

Q
= m/sec.
duct c/s Area

15.72 X 10 –3
=
0.15 x 0.1

= 1.048 m/s

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6. Velocity of Air in the Duct at TmF (V) :

Tmf + 273
= Vx m/sec.
Tf + 273

50 + 273
= 1.048 x
31 + 273

= 1.113 m/s

7. Reynolds Number :

VD
Re =


1.093 x 1.113 x 0.0127

=
19.61 x 10 -6

= 787.84

8. Nussel Number (Nu) :

Nu = 0.165 (Re) 0.466 ....... 40 < Re < 4000.

= 0.165 (787.84) 0.466

= 3.69

9. Heat Transfer Co-Efficient (h) :

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Nu x KAir
=
D
Where,

D = Diameter of Fin
3.69 x 28.26 x 10 -3
=
0.0127

= 8.21

10. Slope (m) :

Where,
c = Circumference of Fin
A = Area of Fin

8.21 x 3.14 x 0.0127

=
110 x 1.26 x 10 -4

= 4.86

11. Effectiveness of Fin ( )

Tanh(mL)
=
mL

tanh ( 4.86 x 0.15)

=
4.86 x 0.15

= 85.41 %

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Properties Of Air

Temp Density Kinematic Prandil Thermal Specific Thermal Coefficien

0
C Kg/m3 Viscosity Number Diffusivity Heat Cp Conducti t of
6
V x 10 Pr m2/nr J/Kg K vity K x Viscosity
m /s
2
103 x 106
Ns/m2 or
Kg/m
-50 1.584 9.23 0.728 45.7 1013 20.35 14.61
-40 1.515 10.04 0.728 49.6 1013 21.17 15.20
-30 1.453 10.80 0.723 53.7 1013 21.98 15.69
-20 1.395 11.61 0.716 68.3 1009 22.79 16.18
-10 1.342 12.43 0.712 52.8 1009 23.61 16.67

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0 1.293 13.28 0.707 67.7 1005 24.42 17.16

10 1.247 14.16 0.705 72.2 1005 25.12 17.65
20 1.205 15.06 0.703 77.1 1005 25.93 18.14
30 1.165 16.00 0.701 82.3 1005 26.75 18.63
40 1.128 16.69 0.699 87.5 1005 27.56 19.12
50 1.093 17.95 0.698 92.6 1005 28.26 19.61
60 1.060 18.97 0.696 97.9 1005 28.96 20.10
70 1.029 20.02 0.694 102.8 1009 29.66 20.59
80 1.000 21.09 0.692 108.7 1009 30.47 21.08
90 0.972 22.10 0.690 114.8 1009 31.28 21.48
100 0.946 23.13 0.688 121.1 1009 32.10 21.87
120 0.898 25.45 0.686 132.6 1009 33.38 22.85
140 0.854 27.80 0.684 145.2 1013 34.89 23.73
160 0.815 30.09 0.682 158.0 1017 36.40 24.52
180 0.779 32.49 0.681 171.0 1022 37.80 25.30
200 0.746 34.85 0.680 184.9 1026 39.31 25.99
250 0.674 40.61 0.677 210.6 1038 42.68 27.36
300 0.615 48.20 0.674 257.6 1047 46.05 29.71
350 0.566 55.46 0.676 294.7 1059 49.08 31.38
400 0.524 63.09 0.678 335.2 1067 52.10 33.05
500 0.456 79.38 0.687 415.1 1093 57.45 36.19
600 0.404 96.99 0.699 499.0 1114 62.22 39.13
700 0.362 115.40 0.706 588.2 1135 66.87 41.78
800 0.329 1347.80 0.713 682.0 1156 71.76 44.33

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