Heat Transfer Enhancement via Combined Wall and Triangular Rooted-Fin System

Abstract

This work analyzes heat transfer through a wall containing triangular fins partially embedded in its volume. The coupled heat diffusion equations governing each constituent are solved numerically using an iterative finite volume method. A well bracketed effectiveness of the combined system that suits wide range of applications is analytically derived. Good agreement between the numerical and the analytical results is attained. It is found that the fin-root can act simultaneously as a heat sink and heat source for the wall. The heat transfer rate through the combined system is clearly seen to be maximized at a specific fin-root length. The maximum reported heat transfer rate through the triangular rooted-finned wall is found to be at most 90% above that for the rootless fin case at wall Biot number of 1.54. This percentage is noticed to decrease as the wall Biot number decreases. At that Biot number, the maximum heat transfer rate through the combined system reaches 150% above that through the plain wall. As a result of this work, it is recommended to utilize the triangular rooted-fin as a heat transfer enhancer for high mechanical strength structures exposed to highly convective fluid streams.