Air side heat transfer characteristics of plate finned tube heat exchangers with slit fin configuration under wet conditions

An experimental study was performed on compact finned tube heat exchangers under wet conditions. Eight different finned tube heat exchangers having slit fins with hydrophilic coatings were tested. The effects of tube diameter, the number of tube rows, and inlet air relative humidity on air side heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics were investigated. Air side heat transfer coefficients were calculated using the log mean enthalpy difference method. The effects of the number of tube rows and the tube diameter on the Colburn j-factor and the f-factor were larger compared with those of the inlet air relative humidity. The Colburn j-factor and the f-factor of the single-row heat exchanger were larger than those of two- or three-row heat exchangers. The j-factor for the 5.30 mm tube diameter was compared with those for 7.35 mm and 9.95 mm tube diameters at 46% RH and was found to be 33% and 55% larger, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.