Effect of fin pattern on the air-side performance of herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers

In the present study, new experimental data on the air-side performance of fin-and-tube heat exchangers having herringbone wavy fin configuration are presented. Different from most previous studies, the present experiments have been performed to determine the effects of fin patterns and edge corrugations on the air-side performance of the heat exchangers. The experimental apparatus consists essentially of a well-insulated open wind tunnel and herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers made from aluminium wavy finned, copper tube. Two types of wavy fin patterns commonly in industrial use are investigated. Air and hot water are used as working fluids in air-side and tube-side, respectively. From the experimental results, it is found that the fin pattern has a significant effect on the heat transfer and flow characteristics. The corrugation at the fin edge enables the Colburn factor to decrease but it has almost no effect on the friction factor.