Constructal optimization of cylindrical heat sources surrounded with a fin based on minimization of hot spot temperature

Based on constructal theory, the construct of a three-dimensional cylindrical heat sources with convection heat transfer is investigated in this paper. The heat source model is composed of several cylindrical heat sources surrounded with a cylindrical fin or a conical fin. The heat source model not only exists in the heat generating electronic component surrounded with a fin to enhance heat transfer, but also in the heat generating fuel rod with zircaloy cladding. For the specified volumes of the fin and the heat sources, this construct is optimized by taking the minimization of the dimensionless hot spot temperature as optimization objective. The results show that the hot spot temperature of the model is effectively reduced after constructal optimization, which will provider some theoretical guidelines for the optimal design of heat source system.