Enhancement of heat transfer from a continuously moving porous fin exposed in convective–radiative environment

• Analytical model for thermal analysis of moving porous fins.
• Heat transfer from the fin surface due to convection and radiation.
• For practical design aspects, optimization analysis was carried out.
• Comparative study was made between the solid and porous moving fins.
• Porous moving fin has more heat transfer ability than the stationary fin.

In the present article, an exercise has been devoted to establish an analytical model for the determination of temperature distribution, fin efficiency and optimum design parameters of a porous moving fin which is losing heat by simultaneous convection and radiation to its surroundings. For the adaptation of this consideration, the governing equation becomes highly nonlinear. An analytical technique called Adomian decomposition method (ADM) is proposed for the solution methodology. The accuracy of the analytic solution is validated by using a numeric scheme called finite difference method. The results indicate that the numerical data and analytical approach are in agreement with each other. As the present study is an analytic, it is extended to the analysis for determination of optimum dimensions of said fin by satisfying either the maximization of rate of heat transfer for a given fin volume or by the minimization of fin volume for a desired heat transfer rate. The study is further extended to the porous fin in stationary condition and it is found that porous fin in moving condition transfers more heat than stationary condition. Investigation has also been made on solid moving fin to compare the outcomes of these parameters.