Enhancing heat transfer of rectangular fins: Implementing constructal optimization approach

Fin shape optimization is essential to enhance heat transfer by maximizing the heatflux and reducing material. This study examined rectangular fin shape optimized through material reduction and increasing effective surface area to enhance more heat flux. Simulation approach was adopted using ANSYS Workbench carrying out a Steady-State Thermal Analysis. The base temperature of the surface in contact to fins was assumed to be 100 °C. Basically, three cases of rectangular fins were studied: without modification, with circular cavities of 0.3 cm, and with circular cavities of 0.5 cm. The results show that, by introducing circular cavities, the heat flux distribution enhanced as well as there was reduction in the minimum temperature at the far edge of the fin.