This work introduces a novel method that enhances the heat transfer from a given surface by using porous fins. The thermal performance of porous fins is estimated and compared with that of the conventional solid fins. It is found that using porous fin of porosity ε may enhance the performance of an equal size conventional solid fin and, as a result, save 100 ε percent of the fin material. The effect of different design and operating parameters on the porous fin thermal performance is investigated. Examples of these parameters are Ra number, Da number, and thermal conductivity ratio. It is found that more enhancement in the porous fin performance may be achieved as Ra increases especially at large Da numbers. Also, it is found that there is an optimum limit for the thermal conductivity ratio beyond which there is no further improvement in the fin performance.

Issue Section:
Heat Transfer Enhancement
Keywords:
flow through porous media, natural convection, thermal conductivity, Conduction, Finned Surfaces, Heat Transfer, Natural Convection, Porous Media
Topics:
Fins, Heat transfer, Thermal conductivity, Porous materials, Natural convection
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