https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02446-0
Regular Article
Numerical study and RSM-based optimization of thermal performance in a T-HNF embedded semispherical porous fin with various base fluid configurations
1
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 576104, Manipal, Karnataka, India
2
Centre for Computational Modeling, Chennai Institute of Technology, 600069, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
a
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Received:
25
March
2026
Accepted:
1
June
2026
Published online:
8
June
2026
Abstract
This study numerically investigates and optimizes the thermal performance of Al
O
, CuO and MWCNT T-HNF embedded semispherical fin model in various base fluids. The present work focuses on identifying the most suitable base fluid and optimizing the governing parameters values to improve the heat transfer capability of the proposed configuration. A mathematical model describing the heat transfer behavior of the proposed fin system is developed by formulating the governing energy equation under appropriate physical assumptions. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation is reformulated into non-dimensional terms using similarity transformation and solved numerically to capture the heat transfer characteristics of the model. The heat transfer performance of the proposed configuration is assessed by examining its heat flux and thermal efficiency, under various operating conditions. A simulation based comparative analysis was carried out to examine the impact of various base fluids on the heat transfer characteristics of porous fin. Among the base fluids considered, water-based T-HNF demonstrated the highest heat transfer rate, achieving a heat transfer rate enhancement of 3.60% to 20.98% over rest of the base fluids across all the governing parameters. Conversely, methanol-based T-HNF exhibited maximum thermal efficiency, with an enhancement in the range 5.27%−7.90% over water based T-HNF across 
and 
governing parameters. Further, the RSM framework is employed to optimize the governing parameters values that yield enhanced thermal performance in terms of heat transfer rate. The results provide valuable insights into the combined effects of nanofluid composition, base fluid selection and parameter optimization, offering ideas to improve the design and efficiency of materials used in advanced thermal management systems, including heat exchangers, electronic cooling devices, energy systems and cooling of porous structures in high-temperature environments these findings contribute to optimization of sustainable energy nanofluid based thermal management systems, pointing towards potential directions for developing next generation energy efficient cooling systems.
P. A. Katralli and E. Ragulkumar have contributed equally to this work.
© The Author(s) 2026
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