Heat transfer enhancement in annular fins using functionally graded material

Abstract

AbstractThis study presents a new approach on the heat transfer enhancement of annular fins with constant thickness using functionally graded materials. The thermal conductivity of the annular fin is assumed to be graded along the fin radius as a power‐law function. The resulting fin equation is solved by an approximate analytical method using the mean value theorem. The variable coefficients of second and third terms in the second‐order differential equation of the fin are replaced with their mean values along the fin radius. Several different graphs regarding the computed temperature profile, fin tip temperature, and fin efficiency are plotted with respect to the radii ratio thermo‐geometric parameter, and inhomogeneity parameter. It is demonstrated that the inhomogeneity parameter plays an important role on the heat transfer enhancement of the annular fin. However, for large radii ratios the effect of the inhomogeneity parameter decreases. Finally, it is stated that application of the functionally graded material in the annular fins, enhances the heat transfer rate between the fin and surrounding fluid resulting from the higher fin efficiency in comparison to the homogeneous annular fin. It is hoped that the results obtained from this study arouse interest among thermal designers and heat exchanger industries. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 42(7): 603–617, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.21053