Quiz 3

Module 3: Short questions
1. Is the heat flow through a fin truly one-dimensional? Justify the one-dimensional assumption made in
the analysis of fins.
Answer:
Fins are projections on a surface used to promote heat transfer. To achieve this, the best way is to have
a lot of thin fins with spacing in between them. If you were to look at a fin, it is obvious that the
temperature distribution and the heat loss will not be strictly one dimensional. The material near the
sides will be exposed to to slightly more air than the material in the middle. But this is insignificant, so
we go ahead and make the assumption of one dimensional heat flow.
2. Insulated tip condition is often used in fin analysis because (choose one answer)
A. Fins are usually deliberately insulated at their tips
B. There is no heat loss from the tip

cC. The heat loss from the tip is usually insignificant compared to the rest of the fin, and the insulated tip
condition makes the problem mathematically simple
3. What is the difference between fin effectiveness and fin efficiency?
Answer:
The fin efficiency is defined as the ratio of actual heat transfer rate from the fin to the ideal heat transfer
rate from the fin if the entire fin were at base temperature, and its value is between 0 and 1. Fin
effectiveness is defined as the ratio of heat transfer rate from a finned surface to the heat transfer rate
from the same surface if there were no fins, and its value is expected to be greater than 1.
4. The fins attached to a surface are determined to have an effectiveness of 0.9. Do you think the rate of
heat transfer from the surface has increased or decreased as a result of addition of fins?
Answer:
Fin effectiveness value is 0.9 (smaller than 1) this indicates that the heat transferred from the surface is
decreased and hence the fins here were acting as thermal insulation.
5. Fins are normally meant to enhance heat transfer. Under what circumstances the addition of fins may
actually decrease heat transfer?
Answer:
Fins enhance heat transfer from a surface by increasing heat transfer surface area for convection heat
transfer. However, adding too many fins on a surface can suffocate the fluid and retard convection, and
thus it may cause the overall heat transfer coefficient and heat transfer to decrease.
6. Hot water is to be cooled as it flows through the tubes exposed to atmospheric air. Fins are to be
attached in order to enhance heat transfer. Would you recommend adding fins to the inside or outside
the tubes? Why?
Answer:
Fins should be attached on the outside (surface exposed to air) since the convection heat transfer
coefficient is lower on the air side than it is on the water side.
7. Hot air is to be cooled as it is forced through the tubes exposed to atmospheric air. Fins are to be
attached in order to enhance heat transfer. Would you recommend adding fins to the inside or outside
the tubes? Why? When would you recommend adding fins both inside and outside the tubes?
Answer:
 Step 1 of 3
Hot air can be cooled when it is forced to flow through the tubes exposed to atmospheric air. Fins are
added to enhance the heat transfer further than usual.
 Step 2 of 3
Since the convection coefficient of air inside the tube will be higher due to forced convection than the
convection coefficient of outside atmospheric air, it is preferable to attach the fins outside only to cool
the air further than usual.
Therefore, attaching fins outside the tube is recommendable.
 Step 3 of 3
If the convection coefficients of air inside and outside the tube are compatible in magnitude, then it is
recommendable to add fins on both sides of the tube.
8. Consider two finned surface which are identical except that the fins on the fist surface are formed by
casting or extrusion, whereas they are attached to the second surface afterwards by welding or tight
fitting. For which case do you think the fins will provide greater enhancement in heat transfer? Explain.
Answer:
Welding or tight fitting introduces thermal contact resistance at the interface, and thus retards heat
transfer. Therefore, the fins formed by casting or extrusion will provide greater enhancement in heat
transfer.
9. Does the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of a fin increase or decrease as the fin length is increased?
Answer:
Step 1 of 2
(a)
Increasing the length of a fin decreases its efficiency because for longer fins it is difficult to maintain
entire surface at base temperature.
Step 2 of 2
(b)
Increasing the length of a fin increases its effectiveness because it enhances heat transfer by increasing
the surface area.
10. Two pin fins are identical, except that the diameter of one of them is twice the diameter of the
other? For which fin will the a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness be higher? Explain.
Answer:
11. Two plate fins of constant rectangular cross section are identical, except that the thickness of one of
them is twice the thickness of the other? For which fin will the a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness be
higher? Explain.
Answer:
Step 1 of 2
(a)
The thicker fin will have higher efficiency, because for thicker fin the tendency to maintain base
temperature is more when compared to that of the thinner fin.
Step 2 of 2
(b)
The thinner fin will have higher effectiveness, because the thinner fin has relatively more surface area
per unit volume when compared to that of the thicker fin.
12. Two finned surface are identical, except that the convection heat transfer coefficient of one of them
is twice that of the other? For which fin will the a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness be higher? Explain.
Answer:
Step 1 of 2
(a)
The fin with the lower convective heat transfer coefficient will have the higher effectiveness because the
effectiveness of fin is inversely proportional to the convective heat transfer coefficient.
Step 2 of 2
(b)
The fin with the lower convective heat transfer coefficient will also have the higher efficiency because
the fin efficiency is directly proportional to the effectiveness of fin

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Module 3: Short questions

A. Fins are usually deliberately insulated at their tips

B. There is no heat loss from the tip

3. What is the difference between fin effectiveness and fin efficiency?

Therefore, attaching fins outside the tube is recommendable.

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