Full Description

The work reported herein is part of a study of combined heat, mass, and momentum transfer on plate-fin-tube surfaces. In the course of investigating the dehumidification problem, it became evident that a general correlation of dry surface, sensible heat transfer and friction data was needed before any meaningful relations could be developed between heat and mass transfer coefficients. A study of the literature revealed that a great deal of work had been done on similar but larger scale exchangers by engineers in the process industry. Study, modification, and analysis of these correlations lead to the results reported herein.

The results presented for heat, mass, and momentum take into account tube diameter and layout; fin spacing and thickness; and the number of rows of tubes normal to the flow for plain plate-fin-tube exchangers. In the case of mass transfer, the air flow direction was vertically downward through the exchanger. The Colburn j factors have been correlated within about plus or minus 10 percent while the fanning friction factors have been correlated within about plus or minus 35 percent using data from several sources.

Citation: ASHRAE Transactions, Volume 84, Part 1, Atlanta, GA