Performance and optimum geometry of spines with simultaneous heat and mass transfer

An analysis was carried out to study the performance of spine fins of different configurations when subjected to simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms. The temperature and humidity ratio differences are the driving forces for the heat and mass transfer, respectively. Analytical solutions are obtained for the efficiency and temperature distribution over the spine surface when the surface condition is fully wet. A correction chart is developed to correct the value of the dry fin parameter if the fin surface condition is fully wet. The effect of atmospheric pressure on the spine efficiency was also studied as well as the spine optimum geometries were obtained such that a maximum amount of heat transfer rate occurs. It is shown that the closed-form solution for a dry spine case discussed in text books is a special case for the solutions presented in this paper.