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Effect of fin thickness on air-side performance of herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers

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Abstract

In the present study, the effects of fin thickness on the heat transfer and friction characteristics of fin-and-tube heat exchangers having herringbone wavy fin configuration are experimentally investigated. The experimental apparatus consists essentially of a well insulated open wind tunnel and herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers made from aluminium plate finned, copper tube. Air and water are used to be working fluids in air-side and tube-side, respectively. A total of 10 samples of the fin-and-tube heat exchangers are tested. The experimental procedures are conducted by keeping the inlet water temperature at a pre-selected value, adjusting the water volumetric flow rate at a specific value and varying the air velocity. The results are presented as plots of the Colburn factor and friction factor against the Reynolds number based on the fin collar outside diameter (Re Dc ). From the results, it is found that for number of tube rows (N) = 2, the Colburn factor increases with increasing fin thickness. For N ≥ 4, the Colburn factor decreases with increasing fin thickness when Re Dc < 1800, and increases with increasing fin thickness when Re Dc > 2500. The friction factor increases with increasing fin thickness when fin pitch (F p ) ≤ 1.81 mm.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was financially supported by the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) whose guidance and assistance are gratefully acknowledged. The authors wish to acknowledge Mr. Kreangsak Aowphol for his assistance in some of the experimental work and Mr. Panya Pitawanik from the Thai Heat Exchange Company for valuable donation of the fin-and-tube heat exchangers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Lab. (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok 10140, Thailand

    Somchai Wongwises

  2. The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE) King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok 10140, Thailand

    Yutasak Chokeman

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  1. Somchai Wongwises
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  2. Yutasak Chokeman
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Correspondence to Somchai Wongwises.

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Wongwises, S., Chokeman, Y. Effect of fin thickness on air-side performance of herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers. Heat Mass Transfer 41, 147–154 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-004-0507-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-004-0507-7

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