Study of Thermal Performance Between Circular Fin, Triangular Fin and Plate Fin Heat Sinks Under Natural Convection

Abstract: Thermal performances of circular-fin, triangular fin and plate fin heat sink with horizontal base plate were compared in natural convection. Comparison is performed with same base plate dimensions and height of fin condition and same power input. In the work herein, steady-state natural convection heat transfer and thermal performance comparison between circular finned heat sink, triangular finned heat sink & plate finned heat from horizontally-oriented base plate is investigated. SOLIDWORKS software is used in order to develop a three-dimensional numerical model for investigation of different fin geometries effects. Results show that an alteration in fin geometry and material of the fins enhances the thermal performance of fins and reduces the weight of the fin arrays, which leads to lower manufacturing costs. The optimum spacing for maximum fin array thermal performance is found. This study suggests that the most important geometric parameter influencing the heat transfer from fin is the height of fin & also the material of the fins.

Keywords: Fin Spacing, Fin Geometries, Temperature Distribution, Height, Length, Heat Transfer Rate.