Numerical Analysis on Hollow Cylindrical Pin Fins - Natural Convection

Abstract:

In most of the engineering applications unnecessary heat is produced. Fins are extended surface which are used to enhance heat transfer rate from a surface by increasing the area exposed to convection. The addition of fin increases the surface area and this forms an economical solution for increasing the efficiency and the performance of the device. In the present study a comparative analysis is made between an array of hollow pin fins in upward facing and sideward facing arrangement under natural convection. The model is numerically investigated using commercial CFD code ANSYS FLUENT©. The fin outer diameter (12mm) and fin height (50mm) are kept constant. The parameters varied are the internal diameter of the fins and the heat laod. The results show that the sideward fins have lower base plate temperature as expected due to buoyancy effects. However hot spots are identified in the case of sideward facing fins which will affect the heat transfer characteristics when compared to upward facing hollow cylindrical pin fins.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 813-814)
• Pages: 713-717
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.813-814.713
• Online since: November 2015
• Authors: E. Shreehari, S. Sanjay, M. Venkatesan*
• Keywords: ANSYS FLUENT, Extended Surfaces, Hollow Fins, Numerical Method, Pin Fins

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