Effect of temperature dependent properties on the fin performance under dehumidifying operating conditions

• Published in: International journal of refrigeration 2018-04, Vol.88, p.578-586
• Main Authors: Hussein, Mohamed M., Pashah, S., Zubair, Syed M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ailettes humides; Conductivity; Dehumidification; Déshumidification; Efficacité d'ailettes; Fin efficiency; Finite element method; Heat and mass transfer; Heat transfer; Heat transfer coefficients; Humidity; Impact analysis; Méthode d'éléments finis; Propriétés dépendant de la température; Studies; Temperature; Temperature dependence; Temperature dependent properties; Temperature effects; Temperature profiles; Thermal conductivity; Transfert de chaleur et de masse; Wet fins
• ISSN: 0140-7007; 1879-2081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2018.02.008

•The finite-element formulation for modeling dehumidifying operating conditions is presented.•The temperature-dependent thermal conductivity has negligible effects over a considered range of temperature.•The temperature-dependent heat transfer coefficient has a considerable effect on both dry and wet fins.•The effect of temperature-dependent properties is the same for the isotropic and orthotropic materials. The analysis for fin thermal performance under dehumidifying conditions is conducted using a numerical approach. Finite-Element method is used to account for the non-linear effects due to temperature dependent parameters and humidity-temperature relationship. The temperature profiles, as well as the overall fin efficiency, are studied. The fin efficiency is found to be highly dependent on the operating conditions and the degree to which the heat transfer coefficient is a function of temperature. It is found that the effect of temperature-dependent thermal conductivity on fin performance is less as compared to heat transfer coefficient over the considered range of operating conditions.