An expression for the optimum pin fin dimension is derived on exergy basis for a high temperature exchanger employing pin fins. The present result differs from that obtained by Poulikakos and Bejan (1982, "Fin Geometry for Minimum Entropy Generation in Forced Convection," ASME J. Heat Transfer, 104, pp. 616-623) for a low temperature heat recovery application. Also, a simple relation is established between the amounts the base temperature of the optimized pin fin is raised for a range of absorptive coating values. Employing this relation, if the absorptivity of the coating, the plate emissivity, the number of protruding fins, and some area and fluid parameters are known, the corresponding value for the base temperature of the fin is immediately obtained. The analysis shows that the thermal performance of the exchanger improves substantially with a high absorptivity coating hence can be seen as a heat transfer enhancement feature of the exchanger operating with radiation dominance. [DOI:10.1115/1.3013827]
