Determination of fin pitches for maximum performance index of L-footed spiral fin-and-tube heat exchangers
1Fluid Mechanics, Thermal Engineering and Multiphase Flow Research Lab. (FUTURE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
J Ther Eng 2015; 1(5): 251-262
Abstract
In this study, the fin pitches of L-footed spiral finned tube heat exchangers were determined for maximimum performance index. The experiments were done at various fin pitches (fp = 2.4, 3.2, and 4.2 mm) under the range of high Reynolds numbers (5,000–15,000). The test sections had a parallel and counter cross-flow arrangement having the number of tube row of 2. The two working fluids were the ambient air and hot water. The performance indexes (ζ1, ζ2, and ζ3) were used to analyze the experimental data at different fin pitches. The results show that the optimal fin pitches for L-footed spiral finned tube heat exchangers are 2.4 and 3.2 mm.
Keywords: Fin, tube, heat transfer, heat exchanger, optimum, air-water
