Tube bundle beat and mass transfer characteristics in falling film absorption generators

Falling film heat and mass transfer analysis of a horizontal tube bundle in a generator of absorption chillers have been studied. The film Reynolds number is limited to the laminar flow and the effect of ripple on the free surface has been ignored. Thermal boundary conditions are considered to be constant wall temperature and desorption is considered to be free surface evaporation. Analysis is based on a single column of horizontal tubes, arranged in a vertically spaced configuration. A comprehensive numerical code has been developed to solve the governing equations. The functional relationship of average heat transfer coefficient of tube bundle has been analytically correlated to the first tube. The results show that average heat transfer coefficient varies with N-0.25 in a tube bundle. Comparisons of the results with the existing experimental data verify the validation of the present work. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd.