Enhanced Condensation Heat-Transfer on Mini or Low Fin Tubes

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the use of low or mini-fin tubes for improving heat-transfer performance in shell-side condensers. The paper concentrates on, but is not limited to, the experimental and theoretical program in progress at Queen Mary, University of London. This work has so far resulted in an extensive data base of experimental data for condensation on single tubes, covering a wide range of tube geometries and fluid thermophysical properties and in the development of a simple to use model which predicts the majority of this data to within 20%. Work is progressing on the effects of vapor shear and on three-dimensional fin profiles; the later having shown the potential for even higher heat-transfer enhancement.