Air side heat transfer coefficients of discrete plate finned-tube heat exchangers with large fin pitch

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 174 - 180
• Main Authors: Choi, Jong Min, Kim, Yonghan, Lee, Mooyeon, Kim, Yongchan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alignment; Applied sciences; Coiling; Correlation analysis; Deviation; Devices using thermal energy; Discrete fin; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fin alignment; Heat exchangers; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Heat transfer; Heat transfer coefficients; Large fin pitch; Plate heat exchangers; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermal engineering; Tubes; Plate heat exchangers; Discrete fin; Large fin pitch; Fin alignment; Finned tube; Fin; Coil tube; Heat transfer coefficient; Coil; Geometry; Alignment; Heat exchanger; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2009.08.001

The objective of this study is to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of discrete plate finned-tube heat exchangers with large fin pitches. Thirty-four heat exchangers were tested with variations of fin pitches, the number of tube rows, fin alignment, and vertical fin space. The j-factor of the discrete plate finned-tube exchanger was analyzed as a function of coil geometry and then compared with that of the continuous plate finned-tube heat exchanger. For fin pitches of 7.5–15 mm, the j-factors of the discrete plate finned-tube heat exchangers were 6.0–11.6% higher than those of the continuous plate finned-tube heat exchangers. Two separate correlations for the j-factor were developed for the inline and the staggered fin alignment in the discrete plate finned-tube heat exchangers to predict the measured data within a relative deviation of 2.9%.