Optimum Geometry of Plate Fins

A method and practical results are presented for finding the geometries of fixed volume plate fins for maximizing dissipated heat flux. The heat transfer theory used in optimization is based on approximate analytical solutions of conjugated heat transfer, which couple conduction in the fin and convection from the fluid. Nondimensional variables have been found that contain thermal and geometrical properties of the fins and the flow, and these variables have a fixed value at the optimum point. The values are given for rectangular, convex parabolic, triangular, and concave parabolic fin shapes for natural and forced convection including laminar and turbulent boundary layers. An essential conclusion is that it is not necessary to evaluate the convection heat transfer coefficients because convection is already included in these variables when the flow type is specified. Easy-to-use design rules are presented for finding the geometries of fixed volume fins that give the maximum heat transfer. A comparison between the heat transfer capacities of different fins is also discussed.