Research Article
Open Access
Analytical and Experimental Assessment of Steady State Heat Transfer Performance in a Fin Structure
O'Reilly Boisen1*, Rodrigues Nogueira2, Castillo Wankat3
1School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA 2Chemical Flowsheet Development, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, USA
3Separation Sciences and Engineering, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina, USA
O'Reilly Boisen, et al. /Int.J. TechnoChem Res. 2023,9(2),pp 25-30
Abstract
Fins are engineered extended surfaces that significantly improve heat dissipation from a solid base
to its surrounding environment. This work presents the design and thermal analysis of a parabolic-shaped fin,
focusing on the distribution of temperature along its length under steady-state conditions. The heat transfer within
the fin is modeled by solving nonlinear differential equations using the Shooting method, allowing accurate
prediction of temperature profiles. Comparative evaluation is performed against a conventional rectangular fin of
equal volume to quantify improvements in thermal performance. Both conduction within the fin and convection
at its surface are incorporated into the analysis, leading to the derivation of fin efficiency and effectiveness
equations. Results demonstrate that the parabolic fin achieves higher efficiency and superior heat transfer
performance compared to the rectangular design. One-dimensional steady-state temperature profiles along the fin
are plotted, providing insight into thermal gradients along the length. The system is mathematically modeled and
simulated using MATLAB, illustrating the effectiveness of computational techniques in optimizing fin geometry
and predicting heat transfer behavior in practical applications
Keywords
Extended surface; Parabolic fin; Thermal performance; Heat dissipation; Steady-state temperature; MATLAB simulation; Conduction and convection analysis; Fin optimization
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