Heat and mass transfer from annular fins of different cross-sectional area. Part I. Temperature distribution and fin efficiency

A numerical analysis is carried out to study efficiency and temperature distribution of annular fins of different fin profiles (constant and variable cross-sectional area) when subjected to simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms. The temperature and humidity ratio differences are driving forces for heat and mass transfer, respectively. Actual psychrometric relations are used in the present work instead of a linear model between humidity ratio and temperature that has been used in the literature. A non-linear model representing heat and mass transfer mechanisms was solved using a finite difference successive over-relaxation method. Solutions are obtained for temperature distribution over the fin surface in addition to fin efficiency for both fully wet and partially wet fin surfaces. The numerical results are compared with those of previous studies. It was found that one of the linear models for the relation between the humidity ratio and temperature is a reasonable approximation.

► The efficiency and temperature distribution of annular fins of different fin profiles when subjected to simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms are presented.
► Actual psychrometric relations are used in the solution procedure instead of the linear model between the humidity ratio and temperature that has been used in the literature.
► The numerical results are compared with those of previous studies in order to find if the linear model in the published analytical results is close to the real situation.
► It was found that one of the linear models for the relation between the humidity ratio and temperature is a reasonable engineering approximation.