Convective heat transfer from an inclined isothermal fin array: A computational study

Abstract

Miniaturization of electronic devices and continuous evolution in new compact devices always seeks for the higher heat-releasing system. The use of rectangular fin is gaining popularity due to its ease of production and seeks an effort to analyze different configurations. In the present study, a computational analysis of shrouded rectangular fin array in an inclined channel is performed. The conservation equation of mass, momentum, and energy are solved by using finite volume method. For a range of inclination of 30°, 45° and 60° with non-dimensional spacing (S* = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) and clearance (C* = 0.1, 0.25 and 0.4) results are obtained. Also, the Reynolds number (Re) is varied from 640 to 1707 along with the Grashof number (Gr = 1.4 × 105 to 3.32 × 105), the effect on axial pressure defect and the non-dimensional bulk temperature is presented at each inclination. The increase of C* from 0.1 to 0.25 results in a maximum of 6.5–8% increase in the coefficient of heat transfer (h) at an inclination of 60°. Increase in Re enhances the heat transfer by about 12% and increase the pressure drop by about 30%, at a higher inclination. In general, higher inclination provides better heat transfer.