The effects of perforation sizes on laminar heat transfer characteristics of an array of perforated fins

Shaeri and Yaghoubi [25] reported the highest heat transfer rate in a laminar flow for a perforated fin with the most perforations (porosity), regardless of investigation on the effects of perforation sizes. In this study, the effects of size and number of perforations on laminar heat transfer characteristics of an array of perforated fins at the highest porosity of the study of Shaeri and Yaghoubi [25] have been numerically investigated. The Navier–Stokes and energy equations are solved by the finite volume procedure using the SIMPLE algorithm. Results show that at a specific porosity, the thermal entrance length of each perforation of a fin with a lower number of perforations is larger than that of each perforation of a fin with a higher number of perforations. Therefore, in a laminar flow and at a constant porosity, a fin with fewer perforations is more efficient to enhance the heat transfer rate compared with a fin with more perforations. Although perforated fins have higher friction drag and lower pressure drag with respect to solid fins, perforated fins do not affect total drag.

► Thermal effects of perforation sizes and numbers are studied in perforated fins. ► Flow is laminar and perforations are along the length of fins. ► Porosity is defined as volume of perforations divided by volume of a solid fin. ► At a constant porosity, fins with fewer perforations have higher heat transfer rates. ► At a constant porosity, perforated fins do not affect total drag.