On the Optimal Shape and Efficiency Improvement of Fin Heat Sinks

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the values of the entropic efficiency of longitudinal fins by investigating the coupling between the function describing the fin profile and the corresponding steady-state temperature distribution along the fin. By starting from different boundary conditions, we look at the distribution temperature maximizing the efficiency of the fin. From this temperature distribution and by requesting that the fin must comply with natural physical constraints, such as the maximum fin thickness, we obtain an optimal profile for a purely convective fin and a convecting–radiating fin. For different boundary conditions and for a maximum fin thickness equal to four (in dimensionless units), both the profiles are increasing starting from the fin base until they reach the maximum value and then decrease to zero at the tip. Analytic and numerical results, together with different plots, are presented.