Data reduction for air-side performance of fin-and-tube heat exchangers

Abstract

The present study focuses on the data reduction method to obtain the air-side performance of fin-and-tube heat exchangers. The data reduction methodology for air-side heat transfer coefficients in the literature is not based on a consistent approach. This paper recommends standard procedures for dry surface heat transfer in finned-tube heat exchangers having water on the tube-side. Inconsistencies addressed include the ε-NTU relationships, calculation of the tube-side heat transfer coefficient, calculation of fin efficiency, and whether entrance and exit loss should be included in the reduction of friction factors. Use of the recommended standardized methodology will provide more meaningful data for use in the development of correlations, or for performance comparison purposes.