Application of simulated annealing in a rectangular fin with variable heat transfer coefficient

Abstract

This work deals with the inverse prediction of unknown parameters in a rectangular fin geometry subjected to a variable surface heat transfer coefficient. The unknowns which have been estimated are the thermal conductivity, the heat transfer coefficient at the base of the fin and the exponent for variable heat transfer coefficient. The estimations are done for satisfying a predefined temperature distribution obtained using some known fin properties from a forward method based on the decomposition scheme. Then, using the temperature information only at three locations, through the simulated annealing-based inverse algorithm, the unknowns are estimated. Due to correlated nature of the unknowns, many feasible combinations of the three unknowns have been found, which is proposed to offer the designer flexibility in selecting the fin material. The present inverse algorithm is proposed to be useful in situations where only few discrete temperatures are available, as it helps to find out the possible unknown properties which are required to satisfy a given temperature distribution.