Thermal behavior of wet porous and solid fin–Experimental and analytical approach. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chakrabarti, Sidharth S.; Das, P.K.; Ghosh, Indranil
• Is Part Of: International journal of mechanical sciences. Volume 149(2018)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Porous fin -- Wet fin -- Natural convection -- Environment chamber -- Solid fin; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie mécanique -- Périodiques; Mechanical engineering; Maschinenbau; Mechanik; Zeitschrift; Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2018.08.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7403

Abstract

Highlights: Experimental facility has been developed to study the cooling and dehumidification phenomenon of air surrounding an extended surface (porous and solid fin) under controlled environmental conditions. The visual observation of the dehumidifying phenomenon in solid wet fins shows four stages which includes, larger droplets, very fine droplets, film like region and dry region. The porous fin (metal foam with high porosity) considered were found to have more condensate retention capacity and the maximum humidification occurs at the base. Due to the structure of the porous fin it is expected that they will be choking and fouling. While employing a porous fin this point needs to be kept in mind. Along with the experimental study, the porous and solid wet fin were analysed under simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms using the Least Square method and other techniques. The differential equations which governs the fin temperature distribution were solved by using Least Square method and then the fin efficiency and effectiveness was calculated. In solid wet fin, along with LSM other techniques such as Finite difference, fully analytical and LSM has been applied. The obtained results were compared with the experimental results done on both porous and solid wet fin performed under controlled environmental conditions an excellent match have been observed. The fin surface temperature is higher in case of porous fin subjected to natural convection. Abstract: Thermal performance of both solid and porous fins in wet conditions have been investigated under controlled environment conditions. Experimental results have been compared with the findings of analytical investigations. Good agreement between the two have been noted. The visual observation of dehumidifying phenomenon over a fin inside an environmental chamber identifies four stages which includes larger droplets, very fine droplets, film like region and dry region. The porous fin are found to have a tendency to retain condensate, while the maximum dehumidification occurs at the base of the fin. The efficiency and effectiveness of these wet fins depend on the fin base temperature and psychrometric conditions of the ambient air.