Heat transfer characteristics of spirally-coiled circular fin-tube heat exchangers operating under frosting conditions

• Published in: International journal of refrigeration Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 328 - 336
• Main Authors: Lee, Mooyeon, Kang, Taehyung, Joo, Youngju, Kim, Yongchan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chute de pression; Correlation; Corrélation; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Frosting; Givrage; Heat exchanger; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Heat transfer; Pressure drop; Refrigerating engineering; Refrigerating engineering. Cryogenics. Food conservation; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Transfert de chaleur; Échangeur de chaleur; Corrélation; Correlation; Échangeur de chaleur; Frosting; Pressure drop; Transfert de chaleur; Heat exchanger; Givrage; Chute de pression; Heat transfer; Refrigeration installation; Tube; Reynolds number; Frost; Icing; Pressure; Flat plate
• ISSN: 0140-7007; 1879-2081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2010.08.013

The objective of this study is to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of spirally-coiled circular fin-tube heat exchangers under frosting conditions. The heat transfer rate, pressure drop, frost thickness, and Nusselt number of the heat exchanger were measured and analyzed by varying the fin pitch and number of tube rows under frosting conditions. In addition, the Nusselt number of the spirally-coiled circular fin-tube exchanger was compared with those of flat plate fin-tube heat exchangers with discrete fins. An empirical correlation of the Nusselt number was developed as a function of the Reynolds number, dimensionless fin pitch normalized by the hydraulic diameter, i.e., D h / F p , Fourier number, and number of tube rows. The measured Nusselt number was consistent with the predicted value with mean and average deviations of 3.5% and 0.3%, respectively.