This experiment is about heat transfer in a fin based on Fourier’s law of heat conduction and Newton’s Law of Cooling. The latter states that the rate of heat loss of a body is proportional to the differences in temperature between the environment and the body. On the other hand, Fourier’s law of heat conduction states that the time of heat transfer through a material is usually directly proportional to the negative gradient of temperature and the area, at right angles to the gradient, through which the heat flows (Liehnhard, 23). The two laws will be looked into and analyzed based on the outcomes of the results.
This practical basically has three main objectives. In this exercise, the intention is to study the basic principles of heat transfer with respect to free convection cooling. More so, the student is supposed to demonstrate the essence of fins as a means of heat transfer enhancement. Furthermore, the use of finite difference solvers in heat conduction is also to be illustrated.
The main apparatus that will be utilized in this practical is the extended fin, which is a surface that extends from an object to increase the rate of heat transfer to or from the environment by increasing the rate of convection (Sukhtahme, 50). The amount of heat transferred is determined by the amount of convection, conduction or radiation of an object. Adding a fin into an object increases the surface area, thus enhancing heat transfer (pg. 67). A Meter rule for measuring the dimensions of the fin and also a thermometer will be used to take temperature readings.
The knowledge attained from this experiment applies to a wide variety of engineering devices such as cooling systems for electronics, where heat sinks are used to cool the circuit boards and casings (Liehnhard, 77). These are extended fins that conduct the heat away. Besides, this helps in designing the bodies of gadgets and vehicles, which dissipate heat faster (pg. 79).
Work cited
Liehnhard, J. (2013). “A Heat Transfer’s Textbook: Fourth Edition”. New York: Denver Publicatons Inc.
Sukhtahme, S. (2005). “A Textbook on Heat Transfer: Fourth Edition”. Hyderabad: Universities Press (India) Limited.
