A spacecraft radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) contains a cylindrical nuclear element, pictured below. The nuclear element generates q̇g = 200 kW/m3. The RTG is surrounded by eight (N = 8) identical rectangular fins. Each fin’s height (H), length (L), and thickness (t) are given in the picture. The fins are directly machined from a stainless steel cladding of inner and outer radii r1 and r2, respectively. The stainless steel has thermal conductivity of k = 18 W/m·K. Assume that the RTG is in a well-ventilated lab, where the convection heat transfer coefficient is h = 20 W/m2·K and the surrounding temperature is T = 20°C. Ignore effects of thermal radiation. (a) Calculate the fin efficiency of a single rectangular fin, f. (b) Calculate the overall fin efficiency of the entire eight fin array, Obtain the maximum temperature in the stainless steel cladding, T(r1).
A spacecraft radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) contains a cylindrical nuclear element, pictured below. The nuclear element generates q̇g = 200 kW/m3. The RTG is surrounded by eight (N = 8) identical rectangular fins. Each fin’s height (H), length (L), and thickness (t) are given in the picture. The fins are directly machined from a stainless steel cladding of inner and outer radii r1 and r2, respectively. The stainless steel has thermal conductivity of k = 18 W/m·K. Assume that the RTG is in a well-ventilated lab, where the convection heat transfer coefficient is h = 20 W/m2·K and the surrounding temperature is T = 20°C. Ignore effects of thermal radiation. (a) Calculate the fin efficiency of a single rectangular fin, f. (b) Calculate the overall fin efficiency of the entire eight fin array,
Obtain the maximum temperature in the stainless steel cladding, T(r1).
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