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Outer heat transfer coefficient for condensation of pure components on single horizontal low-finned tubes

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Abstract

The outer heat transfer coefficient is determined for the condensation of pure components (iso-propanol, n-pentane, n-heptane, iso-octane and water) on low-finned carbon steel, stainless steel and titanium tubes. The outer heat transfer coefficient on these tubes is 3 to 8 times higher than on a smooth tube with the same reference surface area. The experimental data are compared with theoretical models from literature for the condensation of refrigerants and water. These models do not predict all experimental data for the condensation of iso-propanol and hydrocarbons on low-finned tubes with the accuracy given in the respective papers. Therefore, a new approach for calculation of the outer heat transfer coefficient based on dimensionless numbers is developed. With this new equation, it can be predicted with a maximum deviation of ±20%.

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Notes

  1. The difficulty of the definition of the Weber number by Kumar et al. [12] is explained in detail by Reif [40].

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) for the funding of the joint research project !nnovA2 (www.innova2.de, FKZ 033RC1013D) and the Wieland Werke AG for the supply of the tubes. Further thanks to the TUM Graduate School for supporting the authors during their doctorate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Plant and Process Technology, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany

    Anna Reif, Alexander Büchner, Sebastian Rehfeldt & Harald Klein

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  1. Anna Reif
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  2. Alexander Büchner
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Correspondence to Anna Reif.

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Reif, A., Büchner, A., Rehfeldt, S. et al. Outer heat transfer coefficient for condensation of pure components on single horizontal low-finned tubes. Heat Mass Transfer 55, 3–16 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-017-2184-3

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