Consider a very long, cylindrical fin. The temperature of the fin at the tip and base are 25 °C and 50 °C, respectively. The diameter of the fin is 3 cm. The thermal conductivity of the fin is 150 W/m·K. The heat transfer coefficient is 123 W/m^2·K. Estimate the fin temperature in °C at a distance of 10 cm from the base.

The fin temperature in °C at a distance of 10 cm from the base = 33.78°C

Explanation:

The following assumptions will be made to solve this problem

- The heat transfer coefficient does not change with the time or distance.

- The temperature of the fins varies just in only one direction.

The temperature of the fin at x = 10 cm = 0.10 m from the base can be calculated from the temperature variation with distance formula for a very long fin.

(T - T∞) = (T₀ - T∞)e⁻ᵐˣ

T = T(x) = temperature at any point along the fin

T∞ = temperature at the tip of the fin = ambient temperature = 25°C

T₀ = temperature at the base of thw fin = 50°C

x = any distance along the length of the fin from the base of the fin = 0.1 m

m = √(hP/KA)

h = Heat transfer coefficient = 123 W/m².K

P = perimeter in contact with the base = πD = π × 0.03 = 0.0943 m

K = thermal conductivity = 150 W/m.K

A = surface area in contact with the base = πD²/4 = π(0.03)²/4 = 0.0007071 m²

m = √(123 × 0.0943)/(150 × 0.0007071)

m = 10.46

mx = 10.46 × 0.1 = 1.046

(T - 25) = (50 - 25) e⁻¹•⁰⁴⁶

T = 25 + 25 e⁻¹•⁰⁴⁶ = 25 + 8.78 = 33.78°C