Thermal analysis of straight rectangular fin using homotopy perturbation method

Abstract

In this study a simple and accurate semi-analytical method called Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM) is used for solving nonlinear energy equation in a straight rectangular fin. The thermal conductivity and surface emissivity are considered as temperature dependent with some constant source of internal heat generation. The problem is solved for two main cases of thermo geometric fin parameter Nc = 1 and for Nc = 0.25. The results are presented for the temperature distribution, efficiency and optimum dimensionless parameters are effective and convenient for practical fins. Also it is found that this method can achieve more suitable results as compared to the other methods available in the literature.

Keywords

• Sink temperature
• Homotopy perturbation method
• Efficiency
• Variable surface emissivity