Use of Cuckoo Search Algorithm for Performance Evaluation of Split Elliptic Shaped Fins for Enhanced Rate of Heat Transfer

Proper dissipation of thermal energy has always been a need for desirable efficiency of a system. Extended surface aids in releasing the heat to the immediate surrounding by inducing an extra area. This particular work assesses thermal and fluid flow behavior of extended surfaces with circular and elliptic shaped cross section. Extended surfaces of unvaried cross section are mounted over a square plate arrayed in a staggered manner. With the aid of different thermofluidic parameters, the elliptic shaped pin fin is established to provide a higher thermal performance enhancement of nearly 15% over cylindrical pin fin at inlet flow velocity of 2.35m/s. Further, for elevating the interaction between the surface of the fin and the fluid, elliptic fins are reoriented to form a split. In contrast to cylindrical shaped fin, modification using split shows better result with the highest heat transfer increment of nearly 25%. Further, in order to maximize Nusselt number (Nu), a single objective cuckoo search optimization analysis is done by adopting the response surface method. After analyzing the optimization, it is found that the maximum value of Nu is obtained at dimensionless transverse offset (TO*)=0.125 and dimensionless longitudinal offset (LO*)=0, which has been further validated with the numerical result within 0.97% accuracy. Further, for the cylindrical fin, the present simulations agree with the available empirical correlation within 6.22% accuracy.

Automated summary

This study assesses the thermal and fluid flow behavior of extended surfaces with circular and elliptic shaped cross section. It is found that elliptic shaped pin fins provide nearly 15% higher thermal performance enhancement compared to cylindrical pin fins at an inlet flow velocity of 2.35m/s, with the split elliptic fins showing the highest heat transfer increment of nearly 25% when compared to cylindrical fins. Additionally, optimization analysis using the cuckoo search method indicated that the maximum Nusselt number was achieved at specific offset values, further validated with numerical results within 0.97% accuracy.