Effect of Variation of Local Film Coefficients on Fin Performance

Local heat-transfer coefficients on the surface of a longitudinal, constant area fin were measured experimentally. Turbulent flow was maintained in all tests and the range of fin spacing-to-height ratios from 0.25 to 0.5 was covered. The film coefficients do not increase monotonically from the base of the fin as suggested by an earlier investigation, but increase to a maximum at about 50 percent of fin height, then dip, and then increase again near the tip. The distribution of local coefficients along the height of the fin was similar at all Reynolds numbers and fin spacings investigated. This distribution yields lower fin efficiencies than those computed assuming a constant film coefficient, but, taking advantage of the fact that the distribution is remarkably similar at all fin spacings and all Reynolds numbers, a simple correction factor can be applied to the conventional, constant “h” efficiency to allow for the effect of variation of h. The integrated average heat-transfer coefficients on the surface of the fin were correlated at all fin spacings by a single equation. The coefficients along the base surface between fins were also measured.