Numerical study of laminar free convection about a horizontal cylinder with longitudinal fins of finite thickness

• Published in: International journal of thermal sciences Vol. 46; no. 7; pp. 692 - 698
• Main Authors: Haldar, S.C., Kochhar, G.S., Manohar, K., Sahoo, R.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier Masson SAS 01-07-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Free convection; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Horizontal cylinder; Longitudinal fin; Horizontal cylinder; Longitudinal fin; Free convection; Laminar flow; Heat exchanger; Finned tube; Numerical simulation; Natural convection; Boundary condition; Modeling; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 1290-0729; 1778-4166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2006.10.001

Conjugate numerical solution of laminar free convection about a horizontal cylinder with external longitudinal fins of finite thickness has been carried out. Fins alone contribute very small to the total heat transfer but they greatly influence the heat transfer from the uncovered area of the cylinder. Among the various fin parameters, thickness has the greatest influence on heat transfer. The rate of heat transfer is above that for the free cylinder only when the attached fins are very thin. For thin fins, there exist a fin length, which maximizes the rate of heat transfer. The optimum number and dimensionless length of the fins were obtained as 6 and 0.2 respectively when fin thickness is 0.01, the thinnest among those investigated in this study.