Numerical Heat Transfer Optimization in Modular Systems of Y-Shaped Fins

Abstract

This paper analyses the heat exchange behavior in systems characterized by Y-shaped fins through a numerical approach based on a CFD software. Starting from individual Y profiles, as optimized in a previous work in relation to the dimensionless conductance and to the performance parameter of efficiency, it has been here investigated the advantage of a modular use of profiles. The analysis has been performed by superimposing some dimensional constraints to make immediately comparable the results obtained in the different configurations faced. Each module considered has a number of fins depending on the angle α between the two arms of the Y profile. This number depends therefore also on the horizontal width occupied by the whole system and it is upperly limited by the value allocated to the best performing individual fin. The results showed a significant increase of the dimensionless conductance and therefore of the exchanged thermal power for those multifin configurations with low values of α. This result validates the new optimization criterion proposed.