An experimental simulation of free convection heat performance for rectangular-fins array inside an enclosure: the direction and inclination effect

Abstract

In this paper, an experimental simulation has been performed to predict the thermal performance of free heat convective from a heated longitudinal rectangular-fins array to ambient air in an open ended wooden enclosure. Three various directions of fins array named front, top and bottom. Also, two inclinations of front direction fins array are 30° and 60° are utilized. Fins array is heated from a base plate. Wide ranges of power input magnitudes to the fins array base have been employed. The effect of fins array direction, inclination angle of fins array, heat flux and surface temperature on the thermal performance of free convective have been investigated and analyzed experimentally. The present data refers to the front direction fins array gave best thermal performance in term of Nusselt number about 6% to 10% and 22% to 27% larger than top and bottom directions respectively. Three empirical correlation equations to speculate Nusselt number values for the front, top and bottom directions rectangular-fins array are suggested. The results are compared than last researches and well proximities in behaviors is observed.