Optimization of Fin Type and Fin Per Inch On Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of An Air Cooler
Optimization of Fin Type and Fin Per Inch On Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of An Air Cooler
Optimization of Fin Type and Fin Per Inch On Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of An Air Cooler
and HTFS+ softwares are used for this purpose to solve governing
equations. At first the simulated results obtained from this program is on an industrial scale. The present paper shows a comparative
compared to the experimental data for two cases of FPI. The effects analysis of heat transfer and pressure drop models for fin type
of FPI from 3 to 15 over heat transfer (Q) to pressure drop ratio (circular and hexagonal fins) and FPI (fin per inch) in an air
(Q/Δp ratio). This ratio is one of the main parameters in design, and
cooler on an industrial scale. Heat transfer and pressure drop
simulation heat exchangers. The results show that heat transfer (Q)
and pressure drop increase with increasing FPI steadily, and the Q/Δp were evaluated with the models of equivalent circular fin
ratio increases to FPI=12 and then decreased gradually to FPI=15, method and sector method for hexagonal fins.
and Q/Δp ratio is maximum at FPI=12. The FPI value selection
between 8 and 12 obtained as a result to optimum heat transfer to II. THERMAL RATING
pressure drop ratio. Also by contrast, between circular and hexagonal
fins results, the Q/Δp ratio of hexagonal fins more than Q/Δp ratio of The thermal rating first requires a reasonable adaptation of
circular fins for FPI between 8 and 12 (optimum FPI). the means to be selected to the specified requirement. This
implies a certain experience. Shape, size, finning, and fin-tube
Keywords—Air cooler, circular and hexagonal fins, fin per inch, material must be suitable for the fluid to be cooled or
heat transfer and pressure drop. condensed and must be adapted to its physical properties. The
rating is then carried out by the following step-by-step
I. INTRODUCTION method.
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(9) 2015 1657 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10002571
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Vol:9, No:9, 2015
number of tube rows n, and on the admissible and feasible For optimum design it normally lies in the range of 0.8 <
temperature rise of the cooling air. NTU < 1.5. This quantity already represents a control value
for the available quantities u and nR.
D. Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient U
After the αi value and the cooling air velocity have been I. Coolant Thermal Number
determined, the overall heat transfer coefficient for a selected The dimensionless value ∆ /∆ for various
fin-tube system may be obtained from (1), when an additional types of flow in air coolers is given in [5]. For three typical
product-side fouling rfoul needs to be taken into account, the flow arrangements with air coolers: cross flow; cross-counter
actual service value is first determined, then: flow return bend; counter flow), is given by (8), (9), and
(11). Besides the known quantity NTU, the equations also
(2) contain the quantity ∆ /∆ , which must first be
estimated in order to obtain generally lies between 0
The fouling resistance rfoul may be taken from pertinent and 1, but may also be higher. For isothermal condensation,
manuals or gotten from experience. Generally, air-side fouling ∆ and are zero, so the same is obtained for all flow
need not be considered for the U value. Although relatively types.
International Science Index, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Vol:9, No:9, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10002571
high air-side fouling may adversely affect the air flow through
Arrangement I: Cross Flow
the unit and thus decrease the effective temperature difference,
it scarcely influences the U value because of the relatively On the tube side, one or more passes, side by side:
small air-side heat flux.
E. Number of Tube Rows (8)
The number of tube rows needed depends on both the Arrangement 2: Cross-Counter-Flow Return Bend
specific requirement and the efficiency of the selected fin-tube On the tube side two passes in the counter-flow direction to
system. Roughly estimated, these two factors can be expressed the air flow:
by a quantity a, which includes the temperature difference
between product and cooling air inlet as well as the value
U(A/S) of the fin tube[4]. 1 (9)
, , ∆
with
/ /
(3)
/
1 (10)
(4)
Arrangement 3: Counter Flow
where C1 = 24 for fin tubes of the kind, C2 = 0.49 On the tube side four or more passes in the counter flow
direction to the air flow:
F. Product Thermal Number
One auxiliary term for the further thermal rating is the (11)
dimensionless number
∆ , ,
The flow arrangements are selected according to the
∆ ,
(5) product volume to be cooled or condensed and the temperature
,
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(9) 2015 1658 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10002571
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Vol:9, No:9, 2015
which can be solved graphically as a function of ∆ and (circular and hexagonal fins). It can be found that for both
NTU. circular and hexagonal fins, the Q/Δp ratio increases to
FPI=12 and then decreased gradually to FPI=15 and the
K. Surface Area A Q/Δp ratio is maximum at FPI=12. Also by contrast,
The surface area needed is between circular and hexagonal fins at Fig. 4, the Q/Δp
ratio of hexagonal fins more than Q/Δp ratio of circular
.
(14) fins for FPI between 8 and 12 (optimum FPI).
where is the total heat transferred in the heat exchanger. IV. CONCLUSIONS
L. Face Area S Effects of FPI (fin per inch) on heat transfer and pressure
drop of an air cooler petrochemical industry with circular and
The coolant-side face area needed is obtained from
hexagonal fins is studied. Comparison of variation of heat
transfer and pressure drop in an air cooler, according to FPI
(15)
. (Figs. 1-4) shows that increase of FPI causes the increase of
surface per unit-finned tube, heat transfer and pressure
International Science Index, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Vol:9, No:9, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10002571
This face area is so apportioned to length and width that steadily. But the Q/Δp ratio increases to FPI=12 (for circular
reasonable bundle dimensions are obtained. fins about 47% and for hexagonal fins about 69%) and then
decreased gradually to FPI=15 for both fins (for circular fins
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION about 5% and for hexagonal fins about 8%), and Q/Δp ratio is
In this paper, the effects of FPI (fin per inch) and fin type maximum at FPI=12. The FPI value selection between 8 and
(circular and hexagonal fins) on rate of heat transfer, and 12 obtained as a result to optimum heat transfer to pressure
pressure drop are considered in an air cooler in Iran, Arvand drop ratio. Also by contrast, between circular and hexagonal
petrochemical with geometric parameters and thermophysical fins results, the Q/Δp ratio of hexagonal fins more than Q/Δp
properties. A program in EES (Engineering Equations Solver) ratio of circular fins for FPI between 8 and 12 (optimum FPI)
software moreover, Aspen B-JAC and HTFS+ softwares are
used for solve governing equations. For this purpose, 300
Surf/Unit‐Finned Tube (m²)
FPI more than 12, variation in surface per unit-finned tube 340
is gradual (approximately 2 percent). 320
2- Fig. 2 shows heat exchanged versus FPI. It can be 300
observed in Fig. 1. The increase of FPI causes the 280
increase of heat transfer over tubes. The increase of FPI 260
from 3 to 12 causes the increase of heat exchanged about 240
50% (1.5 times). Moreover, increase of FPI from 12 to 15 220
causes the increase of heat exchanged about only 3%. 200
3- Pressure drop versus FPI is shown in Fig. 3. According to 0 2 4 6 8
FPI
10 12 14 16
Fig. 3 with the increase of FPI, pressure drop increases.
The increase of FPI from 3 to 12 causes only a slight Fig. 2 Heat Exchanged versus FPI
increase of heat exchanged about 1%, but there is a sharp
increase between FPI=12 and FPI=15.
4- Fig. 4 shows that variation of heat transfer to pressure
drop ratio (Q/Δp ratio) versus FPI for two fin types
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(9) 2015 1659 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10002571
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Vol:9, No:9, 2015
0,21
0,205
Pressure Drop [bar]
0,2
0,195
0,19
0,185
0,18
0,175
0,17
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
FPI
2400
International Science Index, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Vol:9, No:9, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10002571
2200
heat transfer to pressure drop
ratio (Q/Δp ratio) [kw/bar]
2000
1800
Circular
1600
hexagonal
1400
1200
1000
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
FPI
Fig. 4 Heat transfer to pressure drop ratio (Q/Δp ratio) versus FPI
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors thank the financial support from Ahvaz Branch,
Islamic Azad University and technical support from Arvand
petrochemical company.
REFERENCES
[1] B. Srbislav, M. Branislav, R. Jacimovic, R. Boris Latinovic, “Research
on air pressure drop in helically-finned tube heat exchangers,” Applied
Thermal Engineering, 2006, vol.26: pp. 478-485.
[2] C. Weierman, J. Taborek, W.J. Marner, “Comparison of the performance
of in-line and staggered banks of tubes with segmented fins.” The
American Institute of Chemical Engineers Symposium, 1978, 74 (174).
[3] V. Ganapathy, “Industrial Boilers and Heat Recovery Steam
Generators: Design, Applications and Calculations,” Marcel Dekker,
2003.
[4] R. K. Shah, D. Sekulic, “Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Design” ,
New York: Wiley, 2003.
[5] A. D. Kraus, A. Aziz, J. Welty, “Extended Surface Heat Transfer,” John
Wiley & Sons, 2001.
[6] A. Bejan, A. D. Kraus, “Heat Transfer Hand Book,” New York: Wiley,
2003.
[7] API 661, “Standards of American Petroleum Institute,” March 2002,
Fifth Edition.
International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(9) 2015 1660 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10002571