Enhancement of Heat Transfer Characteristics of Plain Fin Coated with Brass and Aluminium

Abstract

Rate of heat transfer plays a very important role in the performance of thermal systems like heat engines, steam power plants, refrigerators, air conditioners etc. Continuous efforts are being made to improve the effectiveness of the mentioned systems. Thermal conductivity of material effects the heat transfer characteristics the most and can be enhanced by surface coating of various materials. Materials with high thermal conductivity are preferable for providing coating on substrate to improve heat transfer rate. In present work, fins made of Stainless Steel 304 coated with Brass and Aluminum (250 micrometers thickness) by Twin wire arc coating process, is investigated. Experiments were conducted with and without coating at different heat input using Pin Fin Apparatus and calculated Nusselt number, Reynolds number, thermal conductivity, heat transfer coefficient, fin efficiency. From the results obtained, it is concluded that Nusselt number in case of S.S coated with Aluminium is increased by 1.36% compared with coated with brass and 2.1% compared without coating and there is an increase in efficiency of fin coated brass and Aluminium materials by 14-73% compared to without coating.