Natural convection and radiation from vertically-based arrays of vertical, rectangular fins: a numerical model

A two-dimensional numerical model has been developed for the prediction of natural convection and radiation losses from the surfaces of a vertical rectangular fin array protruding perpendicularly outwards from a vertical rectangular base. The individual contributions of the natural convection and radiation were first estimated separately and then summed to give the overall steady-state rate of heat dissipation through the heat exchanger to the ambient air. The theoretical predictions obtained using this model have been compared with experimental observations from previous investigations.