A numerical study of the mixed convection around slanted-pin fins on a hot plate in vertical and inclined channels

Abstract

The mixed-convective heat transfer of slanted-pin fins on an inclined hot surface was studied numerically under the laminar flow condition. The computational model was constructed using the periodic boundary conditions in the lateral direction of fins. Adopting the Boussinesq approximation, the three-dimensional governing equations for fluid flow and heat transfer were solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. The effects of fin-inclination angles in the range of -45o to +45o were investigated for the Richardson numbers ranging from 0.3–10, by changing the temperature of the hot plate. The effects of channel-inclination from 90o (vertical) to 0o (horizontal) were also investigated. In a vertical channel, it was found that as the buoyancy-driven flow increased, the thermal performance of the positively inclined fins became superior to the negatively inclined fins. However, in a horizontal channel, the thermal performance of the negatively inclined fins was superior for all the Richardson numbers. Details of the flow and heat transfer characteristics were summarized with respect to the channel-inclination angle in quantitative as well as qualitative ways. Difference in the heat transfer characteristic between the channel flow and open external flow was captured, which is important in the practical application.