Exact Analytical and Numerical Solutions for Convective Heat Transfer in a Semi-Spherical Extended Surface with Regular Singular Points

Abstract

In this study, an exact analytical solution for the convective heat transfer equation from a semi-spherical fin was presented. To obtain a mathematical model, the system was assumed to be a lump in the vertical direction and the governing equation in the Cartesian coordinate was transferred to the Mathieu equation. The exact solution was compared with numerical results such as the finite difference method and midpoint method with Richardson extrapolation (Midrich). Not surprisingly, the exact solution prevailed over the numerical solutions in terms of accuracy and ease of use. Furthermore, the effect of Biot number on the heat transfer of the fin and the fine performance was investigated. The relative error of the results obtained from the analytical and numerical solutions at the base, center, and tip of the fin was 0, 7.72, and 40.25 percent, respectively. The results showed that the relative error between the analytical and numerical solutions depends on the Biot number and varies as a function of the fin length. The obtained analytical solution could be encouraging from different mathematical and industrial applications' points of view.

Keywords

• convective heat transfer
• semi-spherical extended surface
• exact analytical solution
• mathieu's equation