ABSTRACT
This paper is devoted to the determination of the effectiveness and the optimization of two-dimensional (2-D), longitudinal rectangular composite fins under convective conditions through the concept of relative inverse thermal admittance. The influence of composite layer thickness and the composite and fin thermal conductivity ratio on the optimum geometry is determined. Effectiveness is used as the fundamental parameter to prove that the fin is fulfilling the objective of increasing heat dissipation. Once the optimum thickness has been obtained, the Biot number and the effectiveness are easily calculated. The optimization process is carried out through universal graphs in which the range of parameters covers most of the practical cases a designer will find and ensuring fins operate as a real dissipation device.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
![](/cms/asset/822694c0-e452-438c-a97c-4baef2bcf504/uhte_a_1211918_uf0001_b.gif)
Juan P. Luna-Abad
Juan P. Luna-Abad is an assistant professor in thermal engineering and heat transfer. He received his licentiate degree from Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain), in 1998. He has worked in thermal radiation in marine engines and pipes. Currently he is working on heat transfer and optimization in extended surfaces.
![](/cms/asset/cd6ff0a8-865b-4a5b-bd1e-94cb27db64d5/uhte_a_1211918_uf0002_b.gif)
Francisco Alhama López
Francisco Alhama López obtained his M.S. in physics from UNED (Madrid, Spain). After gaining his Ph.D. degree in physics from the University of Murcia (Spain), he joined the Department of Applied Physics at the Technical University of Cartagena (Spain). His research areas of interest include numerical techniques, applied mainly to direct inverse and phase-change problems in heat and mass transfer. He has authored scientific articles in this area.