TH1

N21d

0.948

I9

National Research
CaMdlCaMda

Conseil national
de recherches Canada

cop.2

FINNED TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER

CORRELATION OF
DRY SURFACE HEAT TRANSFER DATA

by AH. Elmahdy

d RC.

Reprinted from
AsHRAE Transactions 1979
ANALYZED

DBR Paper No. 948

Divirion of Building Remuch

RESUME

Les dchangeurs tubulaires h ailettes sont largement utilisks

dans
l'industrie
eten particulier dans les secteurs du
chauffage, de la rdfrig6ration et de la climatisation. L'auteur
utilise les donnkes de transfert de chaleur de faisceaux de tubes
circulaires dvec plaques-ailettes continues ou circulaires pour
mettre au point une mkthode empirique de prediction de la variation
du facteur de transfert thermique moyen (J) avec le nombre de
Reynolds cstd air.
L'auteur assume que du cctd air, pour un nombre de Reynolds entre
200 et 2000 environ, la relation entre J et Re peut s'exprimer par
la fonction:
J = C1 Re

L'auteur prend aussi pour acquis que C1 et C2 dependent des

dimensions physiques de l'kchangeur thermique. 11 utilise une
mdthode progressive d'analyse par rkgression linkaire multiple et
les donnkes de transfert de chaleur ddjl publi6es pour determiner
les groupes de dimensions de couronne qui ont la plus grande influence afin de dkfinir C1 et C2. Une cornparaison des valeurs
C1 et C2 calculkes selon cette technique avec des valeurs expkrimentales indique que la prdsente technique est satisfaisante.
Afin de mieux vdrifier la mlthode, l'auteur obtient des donndes
expkrimentales pour un faisceau de 8 rangkes du m&ne type. Les
rksultats ddmontrent que la prksente mdthode peut stre utiliske
pour ce type d16changeurdans les limites donndes de nombres de
Reynolds cctk air et lea
limites des diffkrentes groupes
adimensionnels donnges dans le texte.

No. 2544

FINNED TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER:

CORRELATION OF DRY SURFACE
HEAT TRANSFER DATA
DR. A. H. ELMAHDY, P.E.

DR. R. C. BIGGS, P.E.

Associate Member ASHRAE

Member ASHRAE

A9 STRACT
Finned t u b e h e a t e x c h a n g e r s a r e w i d e l y u s e d i n i n d u s t r y a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h e a r e a of
h e a t i n g , c o o l i n g and a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g . Heat t r a n s f e r d a t a o f t u b e b a n k s w i t h c i r c u l a r t u b e s
and c i r c u l a r o r c o n t i n u o u s f l a t p l a t e f i n s a r e u s e d t o d e v e l o p an e m p i r i c a l t e c h n i q u e t o
p r e d i c t t h e v a r i a t i o n of t h e a v e r a g e h e a t t r a n s f e r J - f a c t o r w i t h t h e a i r s i d e Reynolds number.
I t i s assumed t h a t o v e r t h e a i r s i d e f o r Reynolds number between a b o u t 200 a n d 2000, t h e
f u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p between J and Re i s :

Also, i t i s assumed t h a t C1 a n d C2 a r e dependent on t h e p h y s i c a l d i m e n s i o n s o f t h e h e a t

e x c h a n g e r . A s t e p - b y - s t e p m u l t i p l e l i n e a r r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s method and t h e p r e v i o u s l y
p u b l i s h e d h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a a r e u s e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e most i n f l u e n t i a l g r o u p s of c o i l
dimensions t o d e t e r m i n e t h e q u a n t i t i e s C1 a n d C 2 . Comparison between t h e q u a n t i t i e s C1 and C2
c a l c u l a t e d u s i n g t h i s technique with those determined experimentally i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e present
method i s s a t i s f a c t o r y .
To f u r t h e r v e r i f y t h i s method, e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a were o b t a i n e d on an e i g h t row c o i l o f t h e
same f a m i l y . The r e s u l t s showed t h a t t h e p r e s e n t method can b e u s e d f o r t h i s t y p e of h e a t
e x c h a n g e r o v e r t h e g i v e n r a n g e o f a i r s i d e Reynolds number and t h e r a n g e o f t h e d i f f e r e n t
d i m e n s i o n l e s s groups g i v e n i n t h e t e x t .
INTRODUCTION
R a p i d l y e s c a l a t i n g c o s t s and d e c r e a s i n g s u p p l i e s of e n e r g y r e s u l t i n a n i n c r e a s i n g emphasis on
economic e n e r g y performance a s one o f t h e b u i l d i n g d e s i g n c r i t e r i a . C o n s e q u e n t l y , a c c u r a t e
e s t i m a t e s o f t h e performance of t h e mechanical components of t h e h e a t i n g , v e n t i l a t i n g and
a i r - c o n d i t i o n i n g (HVAC) system a r e r e q u i r e d a t v a r i o u s p h a s e s o f t h e d e s i g n p r o c e s s . Finned
t u b e h e a t exchangers a r e among t h e mechanical components t h a t must be g i v e n c o n s i d e r a b l e
a t t e n t i o n , s i n c e t h e y r e p r e s e n t t h e thermodynamic l i n k between t h e w a t e r and a i r s i d e s o f t h e
b u i l d i n g HVAC s y s t e m .
The e n e r g y a n a l y s i s computer p1,ograms u s e d t o p r e d i c t e n e r g y r e q u i r e m e n t s of b u i l d i n g s
demand, a s i n p u t i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c performance of t h e h e a t e x c h a n g e r .

A . H . Elmahdy i s a Research O f f i c e r i n t h e Energy and S e r v i c e s S e c t i o n , D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g

Research, N a t i o n a l Research C o u n c i l of Canada, Ottawa, K1A CR6.

R.C. Biggs i s C o o r d i n a t o r , S o l a r Energy Program, P u b l i c Works Canada, Ottawa, KIA 0M2.

The thermal performance of multi-row f i n n e d t u b e heat exchangers i s dependent upon parameters

r e l a t e d t o t h e i r p h y s i c a l dimensions i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e u s u a l hydrodynamic parameters. Standard
methods [ l ] have been e s t a b l i s h e d t o p r e d i c t h e a t exchanger performance using measurements t a k e n
over a range of a i r and water c o n d i t i o n s . For example, t h e " e f f e c t i v e n e s s " method adopted by
ASHRAE [2] i s adequate i n determining t h e h e a t t r a n s f e r r a t e of a h e a t exchanger. Nevertheless,
t h i s method i s dependent on t h e e v a l u a t i o n of t h e o v e r a l l h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t U. The
l a t t e r i s calculated using the expression:

ic

-P [ai

1
+ Brn
.0.2]

(1)

The c o n s t a n t s a and 6 i n Eq 1 a r e dependent upon p h y s i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and must be uniquely

determined f o r each c o i l . For example, some c o i l s i m u l a t i o n programs [3 and 41 r e q u i r e t h e
v a r i a t i o n of t h e a i r s i d e h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t with t h e a i r flow Reynolds number f o r h e a t
t r a n s f e r r a t e c a l c u l a t i o n . Others, however, use t h e c o i l manufacturers' d a t a which, i n some
c a s e s , a r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y experimental d a t a , but i n c l u d e e x t r a p o l a t e d o r i n t e r p o l a t e d p o i n t s .
I n t h i s paper, p r e v i o u s l y published h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a f o r dry, f i n n e d - t u b e exchangers a r e
used t o develop an e m p i r i c a l technique t o c a l c u l a t e t h e average f i l m h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t
on t h e a i r s i d e . T h i s a n a l y s i s i s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e f a m i l y of heat exchangers with s t a g g e r e d
c i r c u l a r t u b e s and e i t h e r c i r c u l a r o r continuous f l a t p l a t e f i n s . T h i s t y p e of heat exchanger
i s t h e most commonly used i n h e a t i n g , v e n t i l a t i n g and a i r - c o n d i t i o n i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s .
T h i s a n a l y s i s i s aimed a t determining t h e a i r s i d e heat t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t h o n l y . The
o v e r a l l U c o e f f i c i e n t can be determined from h and t h e o t h e r thermal r e s i s t a n c e s , i n c l u d i n g
t h o s e due t o conduction, c o n t a c t , water s i d e convective heat t r a n s f e r and conduction through
extended s u r f a c e s .

ANALYSIS
The thermal c h a r a c t e r i s t i c performance of a f i n n e d tube h e a t exchanger i s u s u a l l y expressed i n
terms of t h e r e l a t i o n between t h e a i r s i d e Reynolds number Re, and t h e average heat t r a n s f e r
Colburn J - f a c t o r [S] a s f o l l o w s .
J = $ (Re)

where Re i s based on t h e c o i l h y d r a u l i c diameter Dh [ 6 ] .

based on t h e maximum a i r mass f l u x G , and i s d e f i n e d a s :
h 'I
=

(2)
The average heat t r a n s f e r J - f a c t o r i s

pr2/3

;G-j

(3)

where h i s t h e average f i l m h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t on t h e a i r s i d e , and i s based on t h e

log-mean temperature d i f f e r e n c e [ 6 ] .
Experimental h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a f o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c o i l s , when p l o t t e d a s J - f a c t o r v s Re,
s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e f u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p given by Eq 2 can be expressed a s :

J = C

Re

The q u a n t i t i e s C1 and C 2 a r e c o n s t a n t s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r c o i l o v e r t h e Re range of 200 t o 2000

considered i n t h i s c a s e . I t i s p o s t u l a t e d t h a t C1 and C2 a r e dependent on t h e p h y s i c a l
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e heat exchanger. Determination of t h e most a p p r o p r i a t e c o i l
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s r e q u i r e s t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e heat equation over t u b e banks. The l a t t e r i s an

*Description of symbols i s given i n t h e nomenclature.

(4 1

e x t r e m e l y complex e q u a t i o n and v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e t o s o l v e e x c e p t f o r t r i v i a l c a s e s [ 7 ] . A
non-dimensional a n a l y s i s c a n be u t i l i z e d , however, t o d e t e r m i n e t h e d i m e n s i o n l e s s groups t h a t
may i n f l u e n c e t h e c o i l p a r a m e t e r s C1 and C2. I t i s assumed t h a t :

and,

I n Eq 5 and 6, t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l t u b e s p a c i n g Sg, and t h e t r a n s v e r s e t u b e s p a c i n g St a r e s e e n t o .

i n f l u e n c e t h e t h e r m a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p e r f o r m a n c e of h e a t e x c h a n g e r s . T h i s h a s been shown by t h e
s t u d i e s by Grame [8] and J o n e s [ 9 ] . On t h e o t h e r hand, f i n s p a c i n g Fs, f i n t h i c k n e s s Ft and f i n
h e i g h t Fh a l s o a f f e c t t h e performance o f f i n n e d t u b e h e a t e x c h a n g e r s a s r e p o r t e d by B r i g g s [ l o ] .
By i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e h e a t t r a n s f e r p r o c e s s t h r o u g h t h e p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y s u r f a c e s , it can b e
shown t h a t t h e r a t i o Ft/Fs i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e r a t i o of h e a t t r a n s f e r t h r o u g h t h e f i n b a s e t o
t h a t t h r o u g h t h e b a r e t u b e s u r f a c e . Also, t h e geometry of t h e f i n i s d e s c r i b e d b y i t s a s p e c t
r a t i o Ft/Fh, and i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e r a t i o o f t h e c o n d u c t i o n t o c o n v e c t i o n h e a t t r a n s f e r .
Heat t r a n s f e r performance o f t u b e b a n k s i s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e flow p a t t e r n , which i s s t r o n g l y
dependent on t h e arrangement of t h e t u b e s [ l l ] . The r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n o f t h e t u b e s i n t h e t u b e
bank a f f e c t t h e t u r b u l e n c e produced i n t h e flow f i e l d , and c o n s e q u e n t l y i n f l u e n c e t h e o v e r a l l
h e a t t r a n s f e r performance of t h e h e a t e x c h a n g e r . The d i m e n s i o n l e s s groups Fd/St and Fd/Sg a r e
c o n s i d e r e d t o t a k e a c c o u n t o f t h e t u b e a r r a n g e m e n t . For a c o n t i n u o u s f l a t p l a t e f i n , Fd i s t h e
e q u i v a l e n t f i n d i a m e t e r based on an e q u a l c i r c u l a r a r e a of a n o n - c i r c u l a r f i n [ 1 2 ] . T h i s proved
t o b e a p p r o p r i a t e when d e t e r m i n i n g t h e e q u i v a l e n t f i n e f f i c i e n c y [13, 14 and 151. F i n a l l y , t h e
r a t i o o f t h e minimum f l o w a r e a t o t h e f r o n t a l a r e a of t h e c o i l A,, i s i n c l u d e d a s a n a d d i t i o n a l
parameter t o represent flow c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
Eq 5 and 6 a r e r e a r r a n g e d i n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g workable form:

and :

Experimental heat t r a n s f e r d a t a of twenty d i f f e r e n t h e a t exchangers, a s d e s c r i b e d i n

Appendix A, was u s e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h Eq 7 and 8 t o o b t a i n a n e x p r e s s i o n f o r t h e q u a n t i t i e s
C1 and C 2 i n t e r m s o f t h e a ' s and b ' s . T h i s was done n u m e r i c a l l y u s i n g s t e p - b y - s t e p m u l t i p l e
l i n e a r r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s [ 1 6 , 171. With t h e a i d o f a d i g i t a l computer, t h e r e g r e s s i o n
a n a l y s i s method was u t i l i z e d t o s e l e c t t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t d i m e n s i o n l e s s g r o u p s i n Eq 7 and 8 .
The r e s u l t i s summarized i n t h e f o l l o w i n g e x p r e s s i o n s f o r C1 and C2:

and

lf]

0.049 f F
C2 =

0.077
(10)

For s i m p l i c i t y , t h e q u a n t i t i e s C1 and C 2 determined u s i n g Eq 9 and 10 w i l l b e r e f e r r e d t o

h e r e a f t e r a s C l , a and C z Y a r e s p e c t i v e l y . Agreement between C 1 and C l Y a i s v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y , a s
shown i n F i g . 1. Also, t h e comparison between C2 and C2,a is g i v e n i n F i g . 2 t o show t h e good
agreement between t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l and a n a l y t i c a l v a l u e s . F u r t h e r c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h i s a g r e e ment i s b e s t i l l u s t r a t e d i n F i g . 3 . I n t h i s graph, J / C 1 a i s p l o t t e d v s Re C 2 , a f o r t h e s e t of
c o i l s used i n t h i s c o r r e l a t i o n . For each c o i l , f o u r d i f k e r e n t p o i n t s a r e p l o t t e d , and t h e
agreement i s v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y . A summary of t h e d a t a p o i n t s of t h e s e c o i l s i s g i v e n i n
Table A-3 of Appendix A .
Because of t h e l i m i t e d amount o f e x p e r i m e n t a l h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a on d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f h e a t
exchangers a v a i l a b l e i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e , Eq 9 and 10 a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e f a m i l y o f h e a t
exchangers g i v e n i n Appendix A ( t h a t i s , t u b e banks o f s t a g g e r e d c i r c u l a r t u b e s , f o u r rows o r
more, w i t h c i r c u l a r o r c o n t i n u o u s f l a t p l a t e f i n s ) . Furthermore, t h e s e e q u a t i o n s a r e o n l y v a l i d
where t h e v a l u e s of t h e d i m e n s i o n l e s s g r o u p s f a l l i n t h e r a n g e of v a r i a b l e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e
a n a l y s i s , and t h e a i r Reynolds number i s between a b o u t 200 and 2000. T a b l e 1 g i v e s t h e range o f
a p p l i c a b i l i t y of t h e c o r r e l a t i o n i n terms o f t h e d i m e n s i o n l e s s groups used i n t h e r e g r e s s i o n
analysis.
EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION
Experimental work was conducted u s i n g a n 8-row s t a g g e r e d c i r c u l a r t u b e , c o n t i n u o u s f i n h e a t
exchanger f o r t h e purpose of f u r t h e r v e r i f i c a t i o n of t h e c o r r e l a t i o n . F i g . 4 i s a schematic
diagram showing t h e p e r t i n e n t dimensions o f t h e t e s t e d c o i l . D e s c r i p t i o n of t h i s h e a t
exchanger i s g i v e n i n Appendix A ( c o i l No. 21 i n T a b l e A-1). A d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e
h e a t exchanger and o f t h e t e s t f a c i l i t y i s given i n Ref 18 and 1 9 .
The r e s u l t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p between J - f a c t o r and Re i s shown i n F i g . 5 . The q u a n t i t i e s C1 and
C2 were found t o b e 0.101 and -0.369 r e s p e c t i v e l y a s determined from t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l r e s u l t s .
On t h e o t h e r hand, C l , , and C z Y a determined u s i n g Eq 9 and 10 were found t o be 0.104 and -0.366
r e s p e c t i v e l y . The J-Re r e l a t i o n s h i p a s determined a n a l y t i c a l l y u s i n g t h e c o r r e l a t i o n i s a l s o
p l o t t e d i n F i g . 5 f o r comparison p u r p o s e s .
DISCUSSION
For t h e a i r s i d e Reynolds number between about 200 and 2000, Eq 9 and 10 a r e shown t o b e
s a t i s f a c t o r y i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e c o i l p a r a m e t e r s C 1 and C2. I n v e s t i g a t i o n of Eq 9 and 10 shows
t h a t t h e f i n a s p e c t r a t i o Ft/Fh h a s e f f e c t s on b o t h C1 and C2. An i n c r e a s e i n t h e f i n a s p e c t
r a t i o r e s u l t s i n a n i n c r e a s e i n C1 (and t h u s i n J - f a c t o r ) and a d e c r e a s e i n C2 (and hence i n
t h e s l o p e o f J v s Re c u r v e ) . The combined e f f e c t of i n c r e a s i n g t h e f i n a s p e c t r a t i o i s an
This i n f a c t i s expected, since t h e f i n e f f i c i e n c y i s a
increase i n t h e average J - f a c t o r .
m o n o t o n i c a l l y i n c r e a s i n g f u n c t i o n i n Ft/Fh [ 1 2 ] , and an i n c r e a s e i n t h e f i n e f f i c i e n c y r e s u l t s
i n an i n c r e a s e i n t h e o v e r a l l h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t , and hence t h e a v e r a g e J - f a c t o r . The
J - f a c t o r i s a l s o shown t o i n c r e a s e w i t h t h e r a t i o of h y d r a u l i c d i a m e t e r Dh t o f i n t h i c k n e s s ,
F t , due t o t h e i n c r e a s e d h e a t t r a n s f e r a r e a f o r c o n v e c t i o n t o t h a t f o r c o n d u c t i o n . T h i s
s u g g e s t s t h a t h e a t exchangers o f t h i s t y p e a r e b e i n g l i m i t e d by t h e c o n v e c t i v e h e a t t r a n s f e r
a r e a on t h e a i r s i d e .
The e x p e r i m e n t a l work done u s i n g an e i g h t - r o w c o i l of t h e same f a m i l y s t u d i e d i n t h i s
a n a l y s i s showed t h a t t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l l y determined c o i l p a r a m e t e r s C 1 and C2, of t h i s c o i l a r e
d i f f e r e n t by about 3% from t h o s e p r e d i c t e d a n a l y t i c a l l y u s i n g Eq 9 and 1 0 . Also, F i g . 5 shows
t h a t t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l l y determined J - f a c t o r i s 3 t o 5% lower t h a n t h a t p r e d i c t e d a n a l y t i c a l l y
o v e r t h e range of a i r Reynolds number between about 200 and 2000. The s e t o f c o i l s s e l e c t e d
f o r t h i s a n a l y s i s was chosen t o r e p r e s e n t t h o s e i n common u s e i n t h e HVAC system. Some
e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e i s f o r c o i l s t e s t e d o u t s i d e t h e Reynolds number r a n g e
c o n s i d e r e d i n t h i s a n a l y s i s . These c o i l s were n o t i n c l u d e d s o t h a t t h e p r e s e n t r e s u l t s would
be a p p l i c a b l e o n l y f o r t h e i n d i c a t e d range (200 < Re < 2000).
The method p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s p a p e r should n o t be c o n s i d e r e d a s a f i n a l s o l u t i o n of p r e d i c t i o n
of h e a t exchanger performance. I t does, however, p r e s e n t a r e l a t i v e l y simple t e c h n i q u e a p p l i e d
t o a t l e a s t one f a m i l y . Perhaps f u r t h e r d a t a may be i n c l u d e d t o g e n e r a l i z e t h i s method f o r

o t h e r f a m i l i e s of h e a t e x c h a n g e r s . On t h e o t h e r hand, o t h e r l e s s i n f l u e n t i a l d i m e n s i o n l e s s
g r o u p s may b e i d e n t i f i e d u s i n g more d a t a i n t h e r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s .
CONCLUSION
In t h i s p a p e r , t h e d r y s u r f a c e h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a i s c o r r e l a t e d f o r one f a m i l y of f i n n e d t u b e
h e a t e x c h a n g e r s . T h i s i s t h e multi-row, s t a g g e r e d c i r c u l a r t u b e arrangement w i t h e i t h e r
c i r c u l a r o r c o n t i n u o u s f l a t p l a t e f i n s . The c h a r a c t e r i s t i c performance of such h e a t exchangers
was found t o be c o r r e l a t e d i n t h e form:

o v e r t h e a i r s i d e Reynolds number between about 200 and 2000.

The h e a t exchanger p a r a m e t e r s C 1 and C2, were found t o be e x p r e s s i b l e i n t e r m s of t h e
p h y s i c a l dimensions of t h e h e a t exchanger, namely f i n t h i c k n e s s , s p a c i n g and h e i g h t and c o i l
hydraulic diameter.
F u r t h e r v e r i f i c a t i o n of t h e proposed method of p r e d i c t i n g t h e J-Re r e l a t i o n s h i p was o b t a i n e d
by comparing t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s model w i t h new e x p e r i m e n t a l h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a o b t a i n e d f o r an
e i g h t row c o i l o f t h e same f a m i l y .
S i m i l a r a n a l y s i s c o u l d be made f o r o t h e r t y p e s of h e a t e x c h a n g e r s . Such s t u d i e s a r e ,
however, l i m i t e d by t h e amount o f e x p e r i m e n t a l h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a a v a i l a b l e f o r t h a t purpose
NOMENCLATURE
Symbo 1
a

Definition

through a

Constants i n Eq 7

Heat t r a n s f e r a r e a

Ar

Minimum flow a r e a / c o i l f a c e flow a r e a

bo through b

P
C1 and C
C

l,a

Constants i n E q 8
A i r specific heat a t constant pressure

Coil parameters given i n E q 4

and C

Dh

2, a

Units

C o i l p a r a m e t e r s a s determined from Eq 9 and 10

respectively
Coil hydraulic diameter

Fdj Fs, Ft

F i n d i a m e t e r , s p a c i n g and t h i c k n e s s r e s p e c t i v e l y

Fh

F i n h e i g h t {F = 0 . 5(Fd - S d ) )
h

Maximum a i r mass f l u x

Average f i l m h e a t t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t

O v e r a l l h e a t t r a n s f e r J - f a c t o r d e f i n e d by E q 3

~i

Mass r a t e of flow

Nf

Number of f i n s p e r i n .

Pr

A i r s i d e P r a n d t l number

Re

A i r s i d e Reynolds number

J / (kg*K)

Symbol

Definition

Sd, Sk, St

Tube d i a m e t e r , l o n g i t u d i n a l s p a c i n g and t r a n s v e r s e s p a c i n g
respectively

Overall heat t r a n s f e r c o e f f i c i e n t

W/ ( r n 2 - ~ )

a, B

C o n s t a n t s i n Eq I

43,

@,,
$

Units

Functions

REFERENCES
I.

A i r - C o n d i t i o n i n g and R e f r i g e r a t i o n I n s t i t u t e , " S t a n d a r d s of F o r c e d - C i r c u l a t i o n Air-Cooling

and Air-Heating C o i l s , " ARI S t a n d a r d s 410-72, A r l i n g t o n , VA, 1972.

2.

"Procedures f o r S i m u l a t i n g t h e Performance of Components and Systems f o r Energy

C a l c u l a t i o n , " ASHRAE P u b l i c a t i o n , 3 r d P r i n t i n g , p . 40, New York, NY, 1976.

3.

"A Simple Model f o r Cooling and D e h u m i d i f i c a t i o n C o i l s

Elmahdy, A . H . and M i t a l a s , G.P.,
f o r Use i n C a l c u l a t i n g Energy Requirements f o r B u i l d i n g s , " ASHRAE T r a n s a c t i o n s , Vol. 83,
P t . 2, p . 103, 1977.

4.

Elmahdy, A.H., and Biggs, R.C.,

"Performance S i m u l a t i o n of Multi-Row Dry ( a n d / o r Wet)
Heat Exchangers, ' I S i x t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l Heat T r a n s f e r Conference, p p . 327-332,
Aug . 7-1 1, 1978, Toronto, O n t a r i o , Canada.

5.

McAdams, W . H . ,

6.

Threlkeld, J .L.,
"Thermal Environmental E n g i n e e r i n g , "
Englewood C l i f f s , NY, 1970.

7.

E c k e r t , E .R.G., and Drake, R . M . J r . ,

Co., 1972, p . 408.

8.

Gram, A . J . , MacKey, C .O., and Monroe, E .S. J r . , "Convection Heat T r a n s f e r Banks,

1 1 - C o r r e l a t i o n of Data f o r Ten Row Deep Tube Bank," ASME T r a n s . , Vol. 80, 1958, p . 25

9.

J o n e s , C.E., and Monroe, E.S. J r . ,

"Convective Heat T r a n s f e r and P r e s s u r e Drop of A i r
Flowing Across I n - L i n e Tube Banks, I-Apparatus, Procedure and S p e c i a l E f f e c t s , " ASME
T r a n s . , Vol. 80, 1958, p . 18.

"Heat Transmission,"

3 r d Ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY,

1954

2nd Ed., P r e n t i c e - H a l l ,

" A n a l y s i s of Heat and Mass ~ r a n s f e r , " McGraw-Hill

10.

B r i g g s , D.E., and Young, E.H.,

"Convection Heat T r a n s f e r and P r e s s u r e Drop of A i r Flowing
Across T r i a n g u l a r P i t c h Banks of Finned Tubes,IT Chem. Eng. P r o g r e s s Symposium S e r i e s Heat T r a n s f e r , Vol. 59, No. 4 1 , 1963, pp. 1-10.

11.

Zukauskas, A . ,

12.

Kern, D.G., and Kraus, A.D.,

13.

Rich, D.G.,
"The E f f i c i e n c y and Thermal R e s i s t a n c e of Annular and R e c t a n g u l a r F i n s , "
P r o c e e d i n g s of t h e T h i r d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Heat T r a n s f e r Conference, Chicago, IL,
Aug. 7-12, 1966, Vol. 111, pp. 81-112.

14.

Zabronsky, H., "Temperature D i s t r i b u t i o n and E f f i c i e n c y of a Heat Exchanger Using Square

F i n s and Round T u b e s , " J . of App. Mech., Vol. 2 2 , pp. 119-122, March 1955.

15.

Sparrow, E.M., and Lin, S . H . , "Heat T r a n s f e r C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of Polygonal and P l a t e

F i n s , " I n t . J . of Heat and Mass T r a n s f e r , Vol. 7, pp. 951-953, 1964.

16.

D r a p e r , N.P., and Smith, H., "Applied R e g r e s s i o n A n a l y s i s , "

17.

Rollwagen, R . I . , " S t a t i s t i c s on L i n e - U s e r ' s Manual,"

S c i e n c e s , Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, 1973.

18.

" A n a l y t i c a l and Experimental Multi-Row Finned-Tube Ileat Exchanger

Elmahdy, A . H . ,
Performance During Cooling and Dehumidifying P r o c e s s e s , " Ph.D. T h e s i s , C a r l e t o n Univ.
Ottawa, Canada, Dec. 1975.

19.

Elmahdy, A.H., and M i t a l a s , G.P.,

" F a c i l i t y f o r T e s t i n g C o o l i n g and Dehumidifying C o i l s :
D e s c r i p t i o n and T e s t R e s u l t s , " D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g Research, N a t i o n a l Research Council
of Canada, NRCC 16509, Ottawa, Canada.

"Advances i n Heat T r a n s f e r , "

Academic P r e s s , NY, Vol. 8, 1972.

"Extended S u r f a c e Heat T r a n s f e r , " McGraw-Hill Book C O . , 1972.

John Wiley 6 Sons, NY, 1968.

Computer Department f o r H e a l t h

TABLE 1

Dimensionless

Groups

Used

i n t h e Regression Analysis

Range :
33.0

0.45

1.27

25.0

1.4

0.85

0.62

- 0 , 32

-0. 30

C 1 (EXPERIMENTAL)

Fig.

Comparison between C

NO.

1
2

0. 14

and C

SYMBOL

Fig.

Comparison between C

I r a

LINE OF
AGREEMENT

I0
d

NO.

SYMBOL

14

0.05

0.06

0.08

0. 10
Re

Fig.

- 0 . 38

-0.36

-0.40

C 2 (EXPERIMENTAL)

COIL

0. 16

-0. 3 4

0. 12

16

17

Ct,

18

I9

20

0. 14

'2' a

Correlation o f heat transfer data

0. 16

and C

2'a

0.165

rnm
COPPER T U B I N G
1 5 . 9 mm O . D .
1 4 . 6 rnm I . D .

- St

38. 1
mrn
38. 1
mrn

C H I L L E D WATER
URN

C H I LLED
WATER
SUPPLY

Fig.

1
0.61

4
rn

Pertinent dimensions o f t h e t e s t e d coil

EX PER I M E N T A L

I<

ANALYTICAL

-/.I\
IF.
I1:1+
1\
?I

T I U N C E R T A I N T Y IN

+\

TUNCERTAINTY

FACTOR

I N Re

Fig. 5
Dry s u r f a c e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c c u r v e
of t h e t e s t e d 8 - r o w c o i l ( 1 8 )

APPENDIX A
HEAT EXCHANGERS DATA FOR REGRESSION ANALYSIS
I n t h i s paper h e a t t r a n s f e r d a t a of 20 d i f f e r e n t h e a t exchangers were used i n t h e r e g r e s s i o n
a n a l y s i s . An a d d i t i o n a l c o i l ( c o i l No. 21) was u s e d t o c a r r y o u t e x p e r i m e n t a l t e s t s f o r
f u r t h e r c o n f i r m a t i o n of t h e a n a l y t i c a l r e s u l t s . T a b l e A - 1 g i v e s a summary of dimensions of a l l
the c o i l s included i n t h i s paper.
T a b l e s A-2 and A-3 g i v e more i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e s e h e a t exchangers i n c l u d i n g some p o i n t s
on t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c c u r v e s .

TABLE A - 1
Coi 1 s Dimensions

For R e g r e s s i o n A n a l y s i s

Dh*

Ft'

*r

St'

S ~ '

in.

in.

in.

in.

19.5

0.187

0.016

0.352

0.964

0.838

0.762

11.3

0.209

0.017

0.434

0.964

0.835

0.554

0.894

11.2

0.186

0.018

0.487

1.08

0.935

0.438

0.895

7.2

0.293

0.022

0.59

1.08

0.935

0.549

0.89

8 .O

0.22

0.04 2

0.49

1.08

0.935

0.535

0.89

6.25

0.24

0.08

0.50

1.08

0.935

1.15

2.3

8.0

0.24

0.017

0.53

2.45

2.13

0.93

1.97

9.82

0.203

0.021

0.59

2.25

1.95

0.95

2.23

9.65

0.181

0.022

0.613

2.45

2.13

10

1.16

2.75

7.9

0.188

0.018

0.59

2.8

2.44

11

1.1

2.02

9.02

0.196

0.017

0.5

2.19

1.9

12

1.03

2.0

0.184

0.013

0.53

2.19

1.9

13

0.53

1.32

6.67

0.183

0.006

0.56

1.25

1.08

14

0.53

1.32

7.67

0.157

0.006

0.56

1.25

1.08

15

0.53

1.32

9.17

0.133

0.006

0.55

1.25

1.08

16

0.53

1.32

11.7

0.11

0.006

0.54

1.25

1.08

17

0.53

1.32

14.5

0.08

0.006

0.54

1.25

1.08

18

0.4

1.05

8 .O

0.14

0.013

0.53

1. O

0.87

19

0.68

1.83

7.75

0.14

0.016

0.50

1.5

1.75

20

0.39

1.04

8.1

0.15

0.004

0.58

1 .O

0.87

21

0.63

1.62

11.8

0.11

0.007

0.54

1.5

1.29

coil

Sd'

Fd'

No.

in.

in.

0.625

0.737

0.546

3
4
5

Nf'

f ins/in.

10.1

TABLE A-2
Summary O f Ileat Exchangers Data

Coil

Ref.

No. of

No.

Rows

Type

Fin

of Fin

Material

Circular
11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

I1

II

I t

Flat Plate
11

11

II

I t

11

I1

11

11

TABLE A - 3
C o i l s Heat T r a n s f e r J - F a c t o r

Reynolds Number
C o i l No.

REFERENCES:

APPENDIX A

300

600

9 00

1200

TABLES

A-1

"The E f f e c t of Fin Spacing on t h e Heat T r a n s f e r and F r i c t i o n Performance of

Rich, D . G . ,
Multi-Row, Smooth P l a t e Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers," ASHRAE Paper No. 2288, ASHRAE
T r a n s a c t i o n s , Vol. 79, p t . 2, p . 137, 1973.

A-2

Kays, W . M . ,

A-3

Myers, R . ,
"The E f f e c t of Dehumidification on t h e A i r S i d e Heat T r a n s f e r C o e f f i c i e n t f o r
a Finned-Tube Coil," M.Sc, Thesis, Univ. of Minnesota, 1967.

and London,

"Compact Heat Exchangers,"

McGraw-Hill Co., NY, 1964.

Reprinted from ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS 1979, Volume 85, Part 2, by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers,
Inc. The views of authors do not purport to reflect the position of the Society, nor does their publication imply any recommendation or endorsement
thereof by the Society.

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