PREDICTION OF FILM CONDENSATION ON HORIZONTAL INTEGRAL FIN TUBES

This paper presents an analytical model for prediction of film condensation on horizontal integral fin tubes. The present model accounts for condensation on all surfaces in the flooded and unflooded regions, and includes the effect of fin efficiency. However, it is based on quite simple principles, and is applicable to hand or computer calculations. The model is applicable to fins of two different basic profile shapes: the special continuous profile shapes previously described by Gregorig, Adamek, or Webb, or fins having rectangular or trapezoidal cross-sections. The model is validated by showing its ability to predict a wide range of experimental data. The data include water, methanol, n-pentane, R-ll, R-12, R-22 and R-113. These data for 80 different tube geometries are predicted within ± 15%. Predictions by the present model are compared with models previously proposed by Webb et al., Honda and Nozu, and Beatty and Katz. © 1990.