Numerical investigation on the thermal performance of perforated and non-perforated twisted fins at different twisting angles

Abstract

The present study numerically investigated the effect of variations in the twisting angle and perimeter of diamond-shaped perforation on the heat transfer of twisted fin heat sinks. The study showed a possible configuration of a heat sink design, aiming to improve heat transfer and the hydrothermal performance factor (HTPF). ANSYS/FLUENT computational fluid dynamics software was used to perform the simulations, and the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-based k−ε turbulence model was used. Results revealed that a maximum of 46 % enhancement in the Nusselt number and a 25 % increase in (HTPF) could be attained with a twisting angle of 540° in comparison with conventional cylindrical fins. Furthermore, the variation in perforation perimeter at a twisting angle of 540° resulted in a maximum of 28 % enhancement in the Nusselt value and a 36 % enhancement in HTPF in comparison with the twisted fins with no perforations. Therefore, this configuration is recommended as the optimal heat sink configuration.

Keywords

• Twisted fin
• Twisting angle
• Perforation perimeter
• Nusselt number
• HTPF