Numerical simulation of forced convection heat transfer from a cylinder with high conductivity radial fins in cross-flow

The problem of cross-flow forced convection heat transfer from a horizontal cylinder with multiple equally spaced high conductivity radial fins on its outer surface was investigated numerically. The effect of several combinations of number of fins and fin height on the average Nusselt number was studied over the range of Reynolds number (1-200). The results showed that there was an optimum number of fins to obtain the maximum Nusselt number for a given value of fin height and Reynolds number. Short fins (H less than or equal to 0.1) slightly decreased the Nusselt number. A large number of long fins reduced the Nusselt number at the top range of Reynolds number studied. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.