Entropy Production and Efficiency in Longitudinal Convecting–Radiating Fins

Abstract

The properties of the entropy production in convecting–radiating fins were analyzed. By taking advantage of the explicit expression for the distribution of heat along the fin, we investigated the possibility of assessing the efficiency of these devices through the amount of entropy produced in the heat transfer process. The analysis was performed both for purely convecting fins and for convecting–radiating fins. A comparison with standard definitions of efficiency is given.