Maximizing Heat Transfer Through Joint Fin Systems

Heat transfer through joint fins is modeled and analyzed analytically in this work. The terminology “joint fin systems” is used to refer to extending surfaces that are exposed to two different convective media from its both ends. It is found that heat transfer through joint fins is maximized at certain critical lengths of each portion (the receiver fin portion which faces the hot side and the sender fin portion that faces the cold side of the convective media). The critical length of each portion of joint fins is increased as the convection coefficient of the other fin portion increases. At a certain value of the thermal conductivity of the sender fin portion, the critical length for the receiver fin portion may be reduced while heat transfer is maximized. This value depends on the convection coefficient for both fin portions. Thermal performance of joint fins is increased as both thermal conductivity of the sender fin portion or its convection coefficient increases. This work shows that the design of machine components such as bolts, screws, and others can be improved to achieve favorable heat transfer characteristics in addition to its main functions such as rigid fixation properties.