The Use of Staggered Array of Aluminum Fins to Enhance the Rate of Heat Transfer While Subject To a Horizontal Flow

Abstract

In order to experimentally measure the thermal performance of the finned heat sink, it is essential that the rate of heat transfer between the heat sink and the flowing water be accurately measured at horizontal positions to different types of fluid. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the fin heat transfer performance and pressure drop properties of an offset-strip fin at a various fin positions. In the present study, experiments are conducted at the range of Reynolds number from 2000 to 11000 for water system. The computations are conducted by assuming that the flow in the offset-strip fin channels is steady and turbulent at the range of Reynolds numbers from 4000 to 11000. In this paper, the effects of the water flow behaviors in the array of fin channels on fanning friction (f) factor, which is the non-dimensional form of pressure drop, is investigated. Also, the hydraulic diameter (Dh) and the volumetric flow rate of the water fluids are kept different for these fins in order to see the effect of those. The effect of Prandtl number is investigated by using water, 0.1 < Pr < 0.64. According to obtained results, there is an effect of types of water flow for various flow rate to the fin heat transfer performance with constant hydraulic diameter (Dh). Also, the experimental results observed that the performance of heat transfer rate to laminar flow is better in respect of heat transfer coefficient, fin efficiency, thermal resistance, and fin effectiveness when compared to those of transition and turbulent water flow.