Numerical Analysis of Natural Convective Heat Transfer over a Vertical Cylinder Using External Fins

Abstract

The present numerical study deals with the natural convection heat transfer on the surface of a vertical cylinder with external longitudinal fins. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of geometric parameters like fin height, fin number and fin shape on the heat transfer and thus obtain the optimum parameters that will maximize the rate of heat transfer have been discussed. The numerical investigation consists of an aluminium cylinder of length 1m and diameter 0.07m with air as the working fluid. It has been seen from the numerical investigation that the heat transfer increases with fin height. It is also observed that there exists optimum fin number for maximum heat transfer. Keeping the fin number, fin height and volume fixed, it was found that the heat transfer is maximum for rectangular shaped fin.