International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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A Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques Using Extended Surfaces (Fins) Arambh Vasant Jadhav Department of Mechanical Engineering MPSTME, Mumbai, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - The improvement of heat transfer, referred to as enhancement, has a very important part in the efficient
working and performance of mechanical systems like heat exchangers, electronic cooling devices, automotive radiators, and power plants. Among the different techniques for heat transfer enhancement, the most accepted and commonly applied is the adoption of extended surfaces, generally called fins, which are passive techniques. Extended surfaces significantly increase the effective heat transfer area, thereby enhancing heat dissipation without the need for additional energy input. Thus, this paper gives a detailed and comprehensive account of the heat transfer enhancement techniques that are mainly focused on extended surfaces. The document elaborates on the basic theory of fins, categorization by geometry and materials, and concludes with the summary of prominent outcomes from earlier research works. Besides this, the paper also underlines the areas where the application of fins, their limitations, and future research directions can happen. This review aims to provide a concise and technically sound overview of extended surfaces for mechanical engineering applications. Key Words: Heat transfer enhancement, extended surfaces, Fins, Passive techniques, Thermal performance
1. INTRODUCTION Heat transfer is a fundamental phenomenon in mechanical engineering and plays a vital role in thermal systems such as boilers, condensers, heat exchangers, refrigeration systems, internal combustion engines and electronic cooling devices. The increasing demand for compact, energy-efficient, and high-performance thermal systems has driven significant interest in heat transfer enhancement techniques these heat transfer enhancement techniques are the factors that make it possible to increase the rate of heat transfer without any significant impact on the size or cost of the system. Therefore, they are classified at first into active and passive methods. The active techniques are the ones that need the external power input, like mechanical vibration or fluid pulsation, while the passive ones are the ones that do not require any additional energy input and are based on surface modification or geometry change. Among the passive heat transfer enhancement methods, the extended surface or fins have been the most effective and widely adopted. The fins extend the surface area that allows heat energy to be transferred through convection and radiation. For their simplicity, dependability, and cost- effectiveness, fins are extensively employed in mechanical and thermal engineering applications. This article is a review of heat transfer enhancement techniques with a special focus on extended surfaces. The goal of the review is to provide a consolidated reference for students and researchers in the mechanical engineering field by summarizing the theoretical background, the types, the materials, the applications, and the recent research developments concerning fins.
2 Classification of Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques Heat transfer enhancement techniques can be broadly classified into three categories:
2.1 Active Techniques Active techniques require external power input to enhance heat transfer. Examples include: Mechanical vibration of heat transfer surfaces Fluid pulsation Electrostatic fields Jet impingement Although effective, these techniques increase system complexity and operating costs.
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