Effects of bundle depth and condensing fluid on the optimized fin dimensions of a horizontal low-finned condenser tube.

Abstract

A theoretical study has been performed to optimize the fin dimensions of a horizontal low-finned copper tube used in shellside condensers. The study relies on a previously proposed theoretical model of film condensation in a bundle of horizontal low-finned tubes with negligible vapor shear. The fin spacing, fin height and fin thickness were systematically varied to obtain optimum fin dimensions using R-22, n-butane and steam as condensing fluids. The optimum values of fin spacing and fin height increased with the row number n counted from top row. The optimum fin spacing increased, whereas the optimum fin height decreased, in the order of R-113, n-butane and steam. At the optimum fin dimensions for n=30, improvements in the overall heat transfer coefficient over smooth tubes were 380% for R-22, 340% for n-butane and 60% for steam at the tube-side water velocity of 2 m/s.