Experimental study of the air side performance of louver and wave fin-and-tube coils

Journal Article · Sat Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2006.01.001· OSTI ID:20770217

Saiz Jabardo, J M; Salamanca, A ^[1]; Bastos Zoghbi Filho, J R ^[2]

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1. Escuela Politecnica Superior, Universidad de la Coruna, Mendizabal s/n Esteiro, 15403 Ferrol, Coruna (Spain)
2. Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica, EESC, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Saocarlense 400 Centro, 13566-590 Sao Carlos, SP (Brazil)

The present paper reports results from an investigation of the air side thermal performance of fin-and-tube coils with herringbone-wavy and convex-louver fins. The tube diameter of the tested coils was 12.7mm. Coils with different fin pitch and tube rows have been tested in order to determine their effect over the thermal performance. In addition, the performance of the convex-louver fins has been evaluated with respect to that of the wavy fins according to the Webb VG1 procedure. The collar diameter Reynolds number covered in the tests varied from 1000 to 6000, corresponding to face velocities of 1-6m/s. It has been found that the fin pitch affects lightly the heat transfer coefficient, its value being incremented of the order of 10% by reducing the fin pitch from 3.17mm to 1.81mm. Opposite trends have been found for the friction factor of wavy and louver fins regarding the effect of the fin pitch. The thermal performance is not affected by the number of tube rows in either of the fin configurations in coils for more than two rows. One and two row coils present non-negligible differences either with respect to the Colburn or friction factors. It has been found that area reductions in louver with respect to wavy fins can attain values of the order of 30% for Reynolds number of the order of 1000 and fin pitch of 3.17mm. (author)

• OSTI ID: 20770217
• Journal Information: Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Journal Name: Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 30; ISSN 0894-1777; ISSN ETFSEO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR
AIR CONDITIONERS
FINS
FLOW RATE
FRICTION FACTOR
GAS FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
PERFORMANCE
REFRIGERATORS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
THERMAL EFFICIENCY