Constructal Design of a Rectangular Fin in a Mixed Convective Confined Environment

Abstract

Extended surfaces or fins offer an efficient solution in many engineering situations that demand a higher heat transfer, including cooling gas-turbine components and electronic chips via internal convective flows. However, fins require a higher active surface area for higher heat transfer, which may not be always feasible in a confined environment. A feasible solution to enhance heat transfer from fins can be the use of nanofluids, which are the combination of a fluid base and nanoparticles. The main purpose of this study is, therefore, to optimize a rectangular fin intruded into the mixed convective confined space filled with a nanofluid and by means of constructal design. Here, a two-dimensional macroscopic numerical model has been developed for Al 2 O 3 -water nanofluid to investigate the heat transfer and fluid flow inside a square confined-space with an intruded rectangular fin and to optimize the fin geometry for maximizing the heat transfer using the constructal design method. The flow fields, temperature fields, heat transfer rates, and the transition from forced to mixed convection are examined for different values of Rayleigh and Reynolds numbers for various fin geometries in order to maximize the heat transfer from the fin to the surrounding nanofluid flow. The outcome of this study provides important insights into the constructal design method for the confined environment, which would be beneficial in developing novel fin geometries with enhanced and controlled heat-transfer for engineering problems, including cooling gas-turbine components and electronic chips.

Effect of surface roughness on heat transfer and entropy generation of mixed convection in nanofluid

“…The conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy for two-dimensional, laminar, steady-state mixed convection fluid flow and heat transfer are used as the governing equations in this study, using the Navier-Stokes equations with the Boussinesq approximation in the y-direction. These equations are expressed as [30,42]:…”

“…According to the study carried out by Basak et al [22], the effect of natural convection decreases while forced convection increases with the higher Reynolds number. Studies done by Buongiorno [23], Tiwari and Das [24], Nemati et al [25], Talebi et al [26], Mansour et al [27], Nayak et al [12,28], Hussain et al [29], and Cong et al [30] are showing that the heat transfer rate increases with increasing nanoparticles concentration. Sortiji et al [31] examined the mixed convection heat transfer of Al2O3-water nanofluid in a ventilated cavity.…”

Numerical Study of Nanofluid Irreversibilities in a Heat Exchanger Used with an Aqueous Medium

“…Therefore, the present study used the single-phase model and assumed that the medium was continuous. In this regard, several studies on complex fluid [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] and nanofluid energy transport have been carried out for different configurations, such as microchannels [ 8 , 9 ], corrugated channels [ 10 , 11 ], grooved channels [ 12 , 13 ], circular tubes [ 14 , 15 ], and cavities [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Thermal Performance of Hybrid-Inspired Coolant for Radiator Application

“…Heat transfer has been an important criterion for many industrial types of equipment and machinery. Many industrial facilities and machineries require proper heat transfer management from different phases for efficient productivity [ 1 , 2 ]. Thus, an efficient heat transfer fluid is required for optimal heat management and efficient process.…”