ME29 · Sem 5 · Heat transfer

Heat sink: effect of fins

Aim: Compare a finned heat sink with a flat plate.

🧪 Live simulation🧊 Real-time 3D bench⚠ Simulated values, not physical measurements

🔬 Virtual lab

Starting the lab…

📘 Theory

Fins add surface area for convection. Heat conducts from the base into each fin and leaves by convection; the solver uses 2D finite differences with convection on every exposed face.

Q = h·A·(T − T∞) · fin efficiency = Q_actual / Q_ideal

🧰 Apparatus (virtual)

Aluminium heat sinks
heater at 80 °C
thermocouples
fan

📝 Procedure

Start with 0 fins and read the heat removed
Add fins one at a time
Raise h (turn on a fan)
Find the point where adding fins stops helping

Observations and result (kept on this device)

🎤 Viva questions

Why do more fins eventually stop helping

Fins crowd together, air cannot flow between them, and each fin is less efficient.

Why are heat sinks aluminium, not steel

Aluminium conducts heat about four times better.

🛡️ Safety

Virtual by default. Machine shops, CNC, presses and test rigs need instructor supervision, PPE and machine-specific safety training.