Efficiency of Thick, Cylindrical Pin Fins

Abstract This study computes the fin efficiency of thick, cylindrical pin fins with insulated tips, that is, cylindrical pin fins where radial-direction conduction within the fin is significant. For such fins, two-dimensional analyses are required as traditional one-dimensional (i.e., thin fin) solutions are inapplicable. Curves of constant thick fin efficiency are mapped on plots of the Biot number versus fin aspect ratio, which are the only two parameters in the thick fin problem. The efficiency is also conveniently calculated by adjusting the analogous thin fin efficiency utilizing a correction factor. Curves of constant correction factors are thus similarly mapped. The thick fin efficiency is therefore easily determined directly from knowledge of only those two parameters, thereby allowing the direct, manual computation of the thick fin performance.