Transient heat transfer in a heat‐generating fin with radiation and convection with temperature‐dependent heat transfer coefficient

The transient heat transfer in a heat‐generating fin with simultaneous surface convection and radiation is studied numerically for a step change in base temperature. The convection heat transfer coefficient is assumed to be a power law function of the local temperature difference between the fin and its surrounding fluid. The values of the power exponent n are chosen to include simulation of natural convection (laminar and turbulent) and nucleate boiling among other convective heat transfer modes. The fin is assumed to have uniform internal heat generation. The transient response of the fin depends on the convection‐conduction parameter, radiation‐conduction parameter, heat generation parameter, power exponent, and the dimensionless sink temperature. The instantaneous heat transfer characteristics such as the base heat transfer, surface heat loss, and energy stored are reported for a range of values of these parameters. When the internal heat generation exceeds a threshold the fin acts as a heat sink instead of a heat source. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj ). DOI 10.1002/htj.21012