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Heat transfer

Is the fin efficiency the same throughout the length of the fin? What is the efficiency of fins used in practice? At what efficiency the fins cannot be justified economically?

1 Answer

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The efficiency of fins in heat transfer generally varies along the length of the fin. Fins are commonly used to enhance heat transfer from a surface by increasing its effective surface area.

The efficiency of a fin is often expressed as the ratio of actual heat transferred by the fin to the maximum possible heat transfer if the entire fin were at the base temperature.

In practice, fin efficiency is rarely uniform along the entire length of the fin. It typically increases from the base (the point of attachment to the surface) towards the tip. The variation in fin efficiency is influenced by factors such as convection, radiation, and conduction along the fin.

The efficiency of fins used in practice depends on the specific application, material properties, and design parameters. Fins are designed to maximize heat transfer while considering practical constraints such as cost, space limitations, and manufacturing feasibility.

User Chris Mullins
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