The effect of the number of tube rows on heat, mass and momentum transfer in flat-plate finned tube heat exchangers

The effect of the number of tube rows on heat, mass and momentum transfer is experimentally investigated for flat-plate, finned-tube heat exchangers which consist of aluminum. fins and copper tubes. Four flat-plate finned-tube heat exchangers are identical except for changes in the number of tube rows (1 to 4). Heat-transfer coefficients for wet and dry surface conditions are obtained for both heating and cooling of moist air flowing over finned tubes. The air velocity was varied from 0.9 to 4 m/s. Heat transfer, Colburn and friction factors are determinated for different tube rows numbers while the Reynolds number were being warried. It is found that the values of Colburn and friction factors for wet surfaces are higher than for dry surfaces and for both conditions the Colburn and friction factors decrease with an increase in the tube row numbers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.