NATURAL CONVECTION HEAT TRANSFER FROM FIN ARRAYS- EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICALAL STUDY ON EFFECT OF INCLINATION OF BASE ON HEAT TRANSFER

Abstract

The problem of natural convection heat transfer from fin arrays with inclination is studied experimentally and theoretically to find the effect of inclination of the base of the fin array on heat transfer rate. A numerical model is developed by taking an enclosure, which is formed by two adjacent vertical fins and horizontal base. Results obtained from this enclosure are used to predict heat transfer rate from the fin array. All the governing equations related to fluid in the enclosure, together with the heat conduction equation in both the fins are solved by using Alternate Direct Implicit method. Numerical results are obtained for temperature along the length of the fin and in the fluid in the enclosure. The experimental studies have been also carried out on two geometric orientations viz., (a) vertical base with vertical fins (vertical fin array) and (b) horizontal base with vertical fins (horizontal fin array), with the five different inclinations like 0 0 , 30 0 , 45 0 , 60 0 , and 90 0 . The experimental results are compared with the numerical results computed by the theoretical analysis shows the good agreement.