Comparative analysis of heat transfer enhancement in nucleate pool boiling using different fin geometries

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of surface geometry on nucleate pool boiling heat transfer, focusing on smooth, rectangular finned, and trapezoidal finned surfaces. Using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method in a two-dimensional numerical analysis, the research provides comprehensive insights into bubble dynamics, including nucleation, growth, detachment, and liquid–vapor interactions. The study shows good agreement between the numerical model results and experimental data, confirming the accuracy and reliability of the VOF method in simulating complex boiling phenomena. The results indicate that finned surfaces significantly enhance heat transfer compared to smooth surfaces, with trapezoidal fins demonstrating the best performance. Trapezoidal fins improved by 133% in the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and 210% in heat flux compared to smooth surfaces, attributed to their optimized geometry that enhances bubble dynamics and thermal efficiency. Rectangular fins also showed sensitivity to fin height and spacing changes, with improvements of up to 95% in HTC and 150% in heat flux. This study provides practical guidelines for designing advanced heat transfer surfaces, with significant applications in thermal management systems for industries such as power generation, cooling systems, and electronics.