HEAT-TRANSFER CHARACTERIZATION OF PLATE FIN-TUBE HEAT-EXCHANGERS

The effects upon the performance of plate fin-tube cross flow heat exchangers due to outer surface geometry are considered. The finning parameter varying from 11 to 23, a total of 10 geometrically distinct configurations was tested over a Reynolds number range from 100 to 30 000. The tube outside diameter with the collar thickness defines the characteristic dimension. The convective heat transfer coefficients are presented as plots of Colbum j-factor versus Reynolds number and compare well with previous studies. The dispersion in the majority of data is +/- 10%. The j-factor, the Reynolds number and the finning parameter are correlated.