Numerical simulation of Fin Efficiency in a Fin and Tube Heat Exchanger

Thermal efficiency of a dry fin is investigated by a two dimensional numerical method. Fin efficiency calculation consists of conduction in thin fin and convection at the both sides of the fin. Multiple convection models have been employed and the results are compared with each other and with the semiexperimental data. The air assumed to beincompressible. The process is considered to be steady state. The flow is single phase and the radiation was not considered. Results of equivalent radius method were ingood agreement with experimental data. Comparison between the results of numerical simulation and semi experimental method, however, shows significant differences in fin efficiency. Possible sources of overprediction of the numerical results may be due to neglecting contact resistance, uncertainties in air side convective heat transfer coefficients, fouling factor that deposit inside tubes and more significantly on the outer surface of fins.

کلیدواژه ها:

fin efficiency ، coil ، convection ، HVAC