Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270

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Energy Conversion and Management

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enconman

Thermal enhancement from heat sinks by using perforated fins

M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi *
Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71348-51154, Iran

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Three-dimensional incompressible laminar fluid flow and heat transfer of a heated array of rectangular
Received 23 June 2008 perforated and solid fins attached on a flat surface are studied numerically. Perforations with rectangular
Accepted 18 January 2009 cross section are along the length of bluff plates and their number varies from 1 to 8. A SIMPLE code using
Available online 23 February 2009
control volume approach is developed for solving Navier–Stokes equations with conjugate energy equa-
tions for both fluid and solid regions. The second order upwind technique is used for discretization of
Keywords: momentum and energy equations. Computations were performed for a range of Reynolds numbers
Fin weight
100  ReD  350, based on fin thickness. Thermal performances and effectiveness as well as friction coef-
Perforated fin
Fin performance
ficient of perforated and solid fins are determined and compared. Higher performances for perforated fins
Nusselt number are observed and effectiveness increased by increasing number of perforations. Higher reduction of
Laminar flow weight of fins due to perforation is another major of utilization of the new type of fins structure. Finally
a new correlation is proposed to predict perforated fin effectiveness for the range of computation carried
out for the considered fins.
Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Advanced technologies need high performance heat transfer
equipments. Methods for improving heat transfer classified in
two categories: active and passive methods [1]. Active methods re-
quire external power to enhance heat transfer and passive meth-
ods do not require external power. Extended surfaces or fins are
example of passive methods that are commonly used in variety
of industrial applications to enhance the rate of heat transfer be-
tween primary surface (heat sink) and ambient fluid. Due to [2,3]
straight fin’s concave parabolic profile provides the maximum heat
dissipation for a given profile area. For most applications, the rect-
angular fins are used to reduce cost of manufacturing. Based on the
widespread application of rectangular fins that are commonly used
for heat exchangers, the understanding of convection mechanisms
and prediction of heat transfer performance on rectangular fins are
usually analyzed by the flow and heat transfer simultaneously [4].
Related studies about bluff plates and thermal efficiency for vari-
ous surfaces and geometries are extensive. Asako and Faghri [5,6]
modeled three-dimensional periodic fully developed laminar flow
and heat transfer over rectangular blocks. Holahan et al. [7] devel-
oped analytical methodology for calculating thermal performance
and pressure drop in fully shrouded, laminar, parallel plate heat
sinks. Baskaya et al. [8] solved three-dimensional elliptic governing
equations for horizontal rectangular fin arrays by finite volume
based CFD code. They investigated the effects of fin spacing, fin
height, length and temperature on performance of rectangular fin
* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +98 711 6272060.
E-mail address: yaghoub@shirazu.ac.ir (M. Yaghoubi).
arrays. Rouvreau et al. [9] studied laminar water flow around a
rectangular block mounted at a short distance from the leading
edge of a flat plate both experimentally and numerically. Their cal-
culations with obstacle in the vicinity of the inlet boundary were in
poor agreement with experiments. They reported that the up-
stream boundary must be placed at a sufficient distance from the
obstacle to eliminate interactions between pressure perturbation
associated with this object and the boundary. Saha [10] studied
three-dimensional laminar unsteady fluid flow and heat transfer
from a stationary cube placed in a uniform flow numerically for
Reynolds number range of 50–400 based on cube dimension. They
observed that for Re = 270 the flow became unsteady. In the steady
regime, the drag coefficient decreased with increase of Reynolds
number. On the other hand the drag force increased in the unstea-
dy regime. Dijk and Lange [11] studied three-dimensional laminar
flow over a block placed on the floor of a channel numerically. They
identified several distinct flow features and reported that the
shape and size of these flow features are mainly dominated by Rey-
nolds number. Also they proposed a logarithmic correlation to
determine the position of separation and attachment point with
Reynolds number.
In addition, heat transfer rate can be improved by employing
perforations, porosity or slots [12]. On the other hand, due to
restrictions in setup space and economical reasons, heat transfer
equipments have been required to be much more compact in size
and lighter in weight [13]. So while a simple solid baffle plate at-
tached to the duct wall enhances heat transfer, a perforated plate
attached to the same duct wall poses less resistance to the flow
and, thus, might have a better performance [14]. Sara et al. [15]
determined thermal performances of solid and perforated rectan-

0196-8904/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2009.01.021
 M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi / Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270 1265

Nomenclature

Cf average friction coefficient WP perforation width (m)

D fin thickness (m) X,Y,Z rectangular coordinates
Gr Grashof number
h average convection heat transfer coefficient Greek symbols
(W/m2 K) a fluid thermal diffusivity (m2/s)
H fin height (m) ePF perforated fin effectiveness
HP perforation height (m) / porosity V v oid =V
L fin length (m) k fluid thermal conductivity (W/m K)
N number of perforations m fluid kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
Nu average Nusselt number ðhDÞ=k q fluid density (kg/m3)
P pressure (Pa) sw average wall shear stress over the faces of fin (Pa)
q heat transfer rate from fin surface (W)
Re Reynolds number Subscripts
ReD Reynolds number ðu1 DÞ=m b fin base
S fin spacing (m) i,j tensor notation
T temperature (K) in inlet condition
u,v,w velocity components in X, Y, Z directions (m/s) PF perforated fin
V fin volume ðL  H  DÞ SF solid fin
V v oid void volume ðL  HP  W P  NÞ 1 free stream

gular blocks that are attached on a flat surface in a rectangular duct
in comparison with heat transfer from the same plate without
blocks. They reported that the solid blocks generated a net energy
loss despite significantly enhanced heat transfer due to the in-
creased of heat transfer surface area. Sahin et al. [12] experimen-
tally investigated overall heat transfer, friction factor and the
effect of various design parameters on heat transfer and friction
factor for the heat exchanger equipped with circular cross section
perforated pin fins in a rectangular channel and also they obtained
correlations for the enhancement efficiency. Dorignac et al. [16]
experimentally determined convective heat transfer on a multi
perforated plate. They also proposed an empirical relation for heat
exchange at the windward surface of a perforated flat plate for a
large range of perforations spacing.
In the present study, three-dimensional laminar fluid flow and
convective heat transfer around an array of solid and perforated
rectangular fins are analyzed numerically. Fins have a new design
type of perforations with rectangular cross section and assumed to
have 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 straight holes along the fin’s length which
corresponds to porosity of 0.0555–0.444. According to the previous
investigations there is not any detailed experimental or theoretical
work on flow and heat transfer for the perforated fins such as illus-
trated in Fig. 1. The present study seems to be the first research
that considers these types of perforated fins in an array of rectan-
gular fins in laminar regime. For investigation, three-dimensional,
steady, laminar incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and the
energy equation for solid and perforated fins are solved numeri-
cally and the comparison between their thermal performances is
elaborated.
2. Governing equations
For three-dimensional steady state incompressible laminar fluid
flow the governing equations are:
oui
Continuity equation : ¼0
oX i
oui 1 oP o2 ui
Momentum equation : uj ¼ þm 2
oX j q oX i oX i
oT o2 T
Energy equation : uj ¼a
oX j oX i oX i
The temperature field on the outer surface of block and perforations
were obtained by solving the Fourier’s heat conduction equation
simultaneously with forced convection in the fluid.
3. Problem description and boundary conditions
Typical array of fins modeled in this study are shown in Fig. 1.
The air flow is considered to be steady and laminar with constant
properties. Moreover, air velocities are such that forced convection
is the dominant heat transfer mechanism between fins and ambi-
ent air because corresponding Richardson number (Gr/Re2) based
on the fin height is less than 0.1. Air with inlet velocity u1 blows
across the fins array. The fin material is aluminum with thermal
conductivity 202 (W/m K) that are widely used for heat removal
from various surfaces. Also, fins have a length, height and thickness
equal to 24, 12 and 4 mm, respectively and the fin spacing is
20 mm. In addition the length, height and width of perforations
are 24, 1.2 and 2.22 mm. The fin thickness is used as the character-
istic length in the Reynolds number. Flows around three-dimen-
sional obstacles are complex and usually characterized by large
unsteady rotational structures, by regular vortex shedding and by
a strongly three-dimensional topology. The flow Reynolds number,
boundary layer thickness and nature, dimensions and position of
the obstacles and the blockage ratio proved to have a major influ-
ence on the nature of heat transfer and fluid flow [9]. In the present
study, the range of Reynolds number is taken 100–350. With these
Reynolds numbers, no instability in flow has observed and flow is
completely steady three-dimensional.
Due to flow symmetry assumed in Fig. 1, computations can ap-
ply only to one fin instead of array of fins. Fig. 2a shows the com-
putational domain. Unsteady state conditions may happen at low
or high Reynolds numbers and this will conduct to unsymmetrical
flow field. For such observation of flow regime, first complete fin
was considered and computations with Reynolds number equal
to 100 performed for full domain. For these conditions completely
ð1Þ symmetric of results were obtained which indicates a steady state
flow regime. After that, the computation is applied for other Rey-
nolds numbers with assumption of steady state flow. For plane
ð2Þ
abcd, as inlet boundary, uniform flow condition is considered for
all variables using uin ¼ u1 ; v in ¼ win ¼ 0 and T in ¼ T 1 . Also the
same conditions are applied for plane bckj that is free stream plane.
ð3Þ
For plane ijkl that is outlet and far from the plate, zero gradients of
1266 M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi / Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270

Fig. 1. Arrays of solid and perforated fins considered in the present investigation.

For planes abji and dckl, symmetry conditions are applied that
means zero gradients of variables in the Z direction, oðÞoZ
¼ 0. Also
in these planes, w = 0. All remaining planes are walls with no slip
boundary condition. Free stream temperature is assumed 25 °C
and the fin base, the plane efgh, has a constant temperature equal
to 70 °C. Also the planes adeh and gfli are assumed adiabatic.
According to Leung and Probert [17] radiation heat transfer rate
is less than 5% and 8% of total heat transfer rate from the polished
aluminum finned surfaces for temperature differences around
40 °C and 77.5 °C, respectively. Therefore in the present study the
effect of thermal radiative heat transfer is neglected because the
maximum temperature difference is equal to 45 °C.

4. Computational scheme
Fig. 2a. Computational domain for solid and perforated fins.
4.1. Domain geometry and grid size

variables in the X direction, oðÞ

oX
¼ 0 are imposed. This condition is The domain used in the present study consists of an entrance
for fully developed condition but it can be applied for this simula- region, an exit plane and the upper free stream surface as illus-
tion because the outlet boundary is sufficiently far from the plate. trated in Fig. 2a. These planes should be sufficiently far from the
 M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi / Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270 1267

fin surfaces that the results become independent of the domain

size. For such analysis some tests were performed to obtain an
appropriate distance from the fin surfaces and by using previous
studies [9,18] finally the computational domain extends 15D up-
stream, 30D downstream, 7H in Y direction and 5D in Z direction.
For proper capture of recirculation zone and reattachment point,
the appropriate grid points in the three dimensions that are dense
near the fin and perforated walls are chosen. Also the solution
must be independent of grids. For this reason several grid points
were studied by changing the number of grids in three dimensions.
For each grid configuration the changes in flow and heat transfer
parameters were compared until independent grids result were Fig. 2b. Grid configuration for a fin with two perforations.
achieved. The related calculation as a sample for solid fin is re-
ported in Table 1.
According to Table 1, the number of grids of 180  80  37 for 0.45 Experimental result [9]
solid fin in X, Y and Z directions respectively are acceptable. For per- Numerical result [9]
forated fins the same procedure is repeated. The corresponding grid Present numerical result

configuration for a typical perforated fin is illustrated in Fig. 2b. 0.4

4.2. Computational procedure

0.35
The governing Equations (1)–(3) are discretized using finite vol-

Z/D
ume code that control volume cells for velocity components are
staggered with respect to the main control volume cells using 0.3

the SIMPLE algorithm developed by Patankar [19]. The second or-

der upwind technique is used to calculate momentum and energy
0.25
equations. The set of discretized equations are solved iteratively
line-by-line. Computation was started by first solving continuity
and momentum equations to determine the flow field and then
0.2
the energy equations to find the thermal field in the computational
-0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
region which include solid block.
u/u ∞
4.3. Validation
Fig. 3. Comparison of velocity profile across a channel at Y/D = 0 and X/D = 0.

For the present model of perforated fins we were not able to

find any experimental or numerical study in three-dimensional
condition. To validate the present numerical modeling, the result
of the present numerical modeling is compared with the computa-
tional and experimental results of [9]. The experimental setup in
[9] was a 160 mm  160 mm closed-loop water channel. The
length, thickness and height of the rectangular obstacle were 60,
60 and 18 mm, respectively, and it was mounted on a flat plate
placed at a distance of 130 mm from the upper wall of the channel
and positioned at 40 mm from its leading edge. Flow Reynolds
number based on obstacle thickness and free stream velocity,
u1 ¼ 1:8 cm=s, was equal to 1000. Authors [9] reported that in
numerical modeling the distance of inlet boundary to obstacle
must be sufficient large to eliminate interactions between the
pressure perturbation associated with the obstacle and the bound-
ary. They solved this problem numerically with adding a develop-
ment zone to upstream distance. The computational domain is
selected a box of 300 mm  160 mm  130 mm in the X, Y and Z
directions respectively [9]. The leading edge of the plate was at
120 mm from the inlet of the channel. Other flow and geometry
conditions were the same as experiment. In the present study
the computational domain is chosen the same as computational
domain in [9]. Fig. 3 shows the comparison of the present results
Table 1
Grid independent studies for solid fin, ReD = 250.
Grid Nu Cf
125  56  30 3.19 0.021
140  64  34 3.22 0.022
150  72  37 3.24 0.024
180  80  37 3.25 0.026
210  90  50 3.25 0.027
with experimental and numerical results of [9] for the velocity pro-
file across the channel.
According to Fig. 3, the good agreement is illustrated between
the present computation and those of [9]. Therefore the present
computational scheme is reliable and we can continue to analyze
perforated fins of Fig. 1.
5. Results and discussion
With a valid code, numerical computations are carried out for
solid fin and perforated fins. Perforation is made by considering
rectangular duct along the fin length and number of channels
changed from 1 to 8 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Flow Reynolds number
is changed from 100 to 350.
To observe the treatment of flow over the fin’s side, the fluid
stream lines around the solid and perforated fins at different height
are shown in Fig. 4. It is visible that flow is symmetrical for both
solid and perforated fins and the recirculation region decreases
from top of the fin to the fin base due to viscous effect of fluid close
to the base. In addition the length of wake behind the fin decreases
with increase in height. For perforated fins because of flow across
perforations, the shape and size of formed wake is different from
solid fin.
Average friction coefficient and average Nusselt number over
the faces of fins are computed by Eqs. (4) and (5) and results are
illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.
sw
Cf ¼ 1 ð4Þ
2
q u21
hD
Nu ¼ ð5Þ
k
1268 M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi / Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270

Fig. 4. Fluid path lines at various sections of different fins, ReD = 250.

In all cases, the average friction coefficient decreases with increase such a manner the solid fin has the maximum value of the average
in Reynolds number and also for any specific Reynolds number, the overall Nusselt number at each Reynolds number. Reduction of heat
value of C f is largest for the solid fin and decreases with increase in transfer coefficient from perforated fins is due smaller flow velocity,
the amount of perforations. In addition one can observes that aver- very short entrance region and laminar fully developed flow in
age Nusselt number increases with increase in Reynolds number channels of perforated fins.
and also decreases with increase in the amount of perforations. In The important design consideration of fins is rate of heat trans-
fer. For describing performance of an individual perforated fin in
comparison with solid fin at the same operation conditions, a rela-
tion as perforated fin effectiveness (PFE) is used as:
0.05 qPF  qSF
ePF ¼  100 ð6Þ
qSF
0.045
Fig. 7 shows the PFE according to Eq. (6) for all cases considered. For
low values of Reynolds number, the value of PFE changes linearly
0.04 Solid fin but for high Reynolds numbers, its value increases exponentially.
1 perforation However PFE has the positive value that indicates by use of perfo-
0.035 2 perforations rated fins, the rate of heat transfer increases in comparison with so-
Cf 3 perforations lid fin.
0.03 4 perforations The performance of perforated fins with higher amount of per-
6 perforations forations is considerable such that perforated fin with eight perfo-
0.025 8 perforations rations has the largest PFE. According to the numerical results, a
correlation that is fitted to all numerical values is obtained to de-
0.02 scribe PFE with respect to ReD and porosity (/), as follow:
100 6 ReD 6 350
0.015 ePF ¼ 8:133 þ 0:095ðReD Þ0:868 ð1  /Þ1:62 for
0:0556 6 / 6 0:444
50 100 150 200 250 300 350
ð7Þ
Re D
The value of correlation accuracy coefficient of the above relation is
Fig. 5. Variation of average friction coefficient over the faces of various types of fins. 0.947.
 M.R. Shaeri, M. Yaghoubi / Energy Conversion and Management 50 (2009) 1264–1270 1269

4 6. Conclusion

3.5 Three-dimensional investigation of laminar fluid flow and con-

vective heat transfer over an array of solid and perforated fins is
3 studied numerically. Perforations are made by rectangular cross
Solid fin section and arranged along the fins attached over a heat sink. Com-
2.5 1 perforation putations for a range of Reynolds numbers from 100 to 350 are per-
2 perforations formed and the following results are obtained:
Nu 2 3 perforations
4 perforations
1. Due to perforations, the shape and position of formed wakes in
1.5 6 perforations
the back of perforated fins in any height of fin are different with
8 perforations
1
wakes for solid.
2. Average friction coefficient, pressure drop and average Nusselt
0.5 number decrease with increasing perforation and solid fin has
the largest value of C f ; sw and Nu.
0 3. For describing the operation of perforated fins, a parameter as
50 100 150 200 250 300 350 perforated fin effectiveness (PFE) is defined that shows the
Re D enhancement of heat transfer rate from individual perforated
fin in comparison with corresponding solid fin. The values of
Fig. 6. Variation of average Nusselt number over the faces of various types of fins. PFE are always positive that show an increase in the heat trans-
fer rate due to use of perforated fins. For low Reynolds numbers
the operation of perforated fins are alike the solid fin. For higher
Reynolds numbers and in perforated fins with more number of
40
perforations, the rate of enhancement of heat transfer is consid-
erable. Finally a correlation for PFE is derived:
35

30
ePF ¼ 8:133 þ 0:095ðReD Þ0:868 ð1  /Þ1:62

25
1 perforation 4. One of the most important benefits of utilization of perforated
2 perforations fins is reduction of fin’s weight. Low weight certifies saving
3 perforations material of fins and related equipments such as heat sinks.
ε PF 20
4 perforations From the results, practically one goal of fin optimization for
6 perforations low Reynolds numbers and both goals of fin optimization for
15
8 perforations higher Reynolds numbers are achieved.
10
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