Heat Transfer Analysis Through External Fins by CFD Tool

Manmatha K. Roul; Laxman K. Sahoo; Saipad B.B.P.J. Sahu; Sibakanta Sahu; Ashok K. Pradhan; Prateek D. Roul

Abstract

The natural convection heat transfer from the heated vertical plates to air can be enhanced with the amendment in the shape of the plates. One of the methods for increasing the heat transfer is by the use of extended surfaces such as external fins. This study includes the CFD analysis of the heat transfer enhancement through different fins having various shapes and sizes considering both conductive and nonconductive fins. The heat transfer from a heated vertical plate having fins of rectangular cross section is examined numerically to compute the average Nusselt number. The total increase of the average Nusselt number was observed to be about 36% for pin finned plate as compared to a plain plate without fins. This is result is achieved with optimal fin spacing of Sv/L = 0.2 and Sh/W = 0.25 having angle of inclination of 45oand fin height of 24 mm. The average Nusselt number decreases with increase in angle of inclination of fins. However average Nusselt number increases with increase in aspect ratio. It was observed that staggered and in-line arrangements of fins do not have a substantial impact on the average Nusselt Number. It was also found that the highest average Nusselt number of conductive fins is 5% more than that of non-conductive fins for Sh/W = 0.33 and Sv/L = 0.2 with fin height of 6 mm and inclination of 45o

Abstract

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